Release the Secret Weapon

Esther had her first soccer game about two months ago. The game started with her and 3 other girls sitting on the sideline. Since Esther had no idea why she was not starting out on the field, I went over to explain to her and the other girls what exactly was going on.

My parental pep talk went something like this: "Hey you guys, do you know why coach wants you to hang out here for a bit?"

"No!" the 5 year olds responded shaking their heads.

"Well, it is because he wants you to be the secret weapons!"

"What is a secret weapon?" They all chanted at the same time with a confused look on their face.

"It means that in a few minutes the coach is going to need you to come in and surprise the other team with all of your soccer skills! He is saving you for a little bit later in the game. So just sit right here and cheer for the other girls while you wait to go in." I may even have talked it up a little more and thrown in the phrase "Release the secret weapon!" in a crazy accent a couple of times. You get the picture.

So, fast forward through the season, to this last week’s game, recognizing that my beautiful and really tall daughter has not quite caught on to the concepts of hustle, scrappiness, or not picking and chewing grass even when the ball is within 5 feet of her. The game was about to begin and she had already defined what she wanted her role to be. She approached her coach and with gusto said, ‘Coach, can I be the secret weapon?" The coach looked at her and said, "Heck yes! You can be the secret weapon!" With that he sent her to the sideline where she enjoyed playing in the dirt and grass with her other little secret weapon pals.

Yesterday during  school we started learning a new quote by President Ezra Taft Benson. "You are not just ordinary young men and young women. You are choice spirits, many of you having been held back in reserve for almost 6,000 years to come forth in this day, at this time, when the temptations, responsibilities, and opportunities are the very greatest."

After I read this to her it hit me. "Esther, do you know that you that you are one of Heavenly Father's secret weapons!"

"I am?"

"Yup! Heavenly Father knows all about you. He knows that you are great! He knows that you will come down to earth and surprise the other team with your goodness and righteousness. You have been up in heaven cheering on your family and others for a really long time, and now you are here on earth at this particular time to be one of Heavenly Father’s secret weapons!"

A huge grin came across her sweet little face as it all seemed to click. Then she turned to me and asked with great enthusiasm, "Mom, are you a secret weapon too?"

With her words, something clicked for me too. The Lord needs His secret weapons to be actively and scrappily engaged in His work. Secret weapons can’t be content on the sidelines playing in the dirt or chewing grass. They need to get after it—I need to get after it and move things forward. He needs players that are cheering and encouraging others. He needs his secret weapons to do everything they can to stand as a witness of Him at all times and in all things and in all places! He needs his secret weapons to stop being so secretive about the amazing skills, talents and abilities that He has given them. It is the time when He wants each one of us to "Release the secret weapon!"

And that is how a 5 year old's soccer game is “Kinda Like Life!”