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*Growing Up* 3/12/02
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As an editorial in the Caledonian-Record of St. Johnsbury, Vermont, put it: "Friday night five teen-age girls at Danville High School became five young adults, and they did so with class." I thought you'd like to know the story. The Friday night in question was January 11, 2002. The setting was a packed gymnasium just prior to the start of the varsity game. The five girls were members of the Danville High School basketball team -- four of them starters. They weren't in uniform to play that night and won't be for the remainder of this season. They were there to explain why they had been kicked off the team. They were there to own a serious infraction of team rules. They were there to support their coach's decision to take them off the team. They were there to let the town know there was a problem in their little community that needs to be addressed. And they did it with appropriate contrition rather than defensiveness. While school had been out for the Christmas and New Year's holidays, the girls had gone to a party with several of their friends. It was New Year's Eve. There was alcohol there. And the five girls all drank some. Coach Tammy Rainville has a zero-tolerance rule on drugs and alcohol for the members of her team. Every kid who plays for her knows that rule. So when classes resumed after the break and accounts of holiday parties were shared, rumors about the five girls began closing in on them. Coach Rainville didn't have to confront them, for they got together and decided to go to her with the full story. The coach said she couldn't back down on her policy. And the players -- two juniors and three seniors -- agreed. That Friday night in the gym was part of their public support of the coach's decision. One of the seniors spoke last. "We hope you will understand that we are not bad kids. We made a mistake... What we did was definitely not worth it. We hope this event will make everyone open their eyes and realize that there is a big drug and alcohol problem in our community," she said. "And if you work with us to try to solve this problem, you will help us feel that we have not been thrown off our basketball team for nothing." The five left the floor to deafening applause. The Danville High School girls basketball team may not win another game this year. But they've learned something about personal responsibility, the effect of one's actions on others, and integrity that will serve them well throughout life. Rubel Shelly whcoc@edge.net Write Rubel and let him know what you thought of his story! (c) 2002 Rubel Shelly. Used by permission. _____________________________ Rubel Shelly has preached for the Woodmont Hills Church of Christ in Nashville since 1978. During that time, he has also taught at David Lipscomb University and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. He is the author of more than 20 books, including several which have been translated into languages such as Korean, Japanese, Portuguese, Italian, French, and Russian. He is married to the former Myra Shappley, and they are the parents of three children: Mrs. David (Michelle) Arms, Tim, and Tom. Visit: http://www.faithmatters.com to read more of Rubel's writing or to sign up for his weekly column: FAX of Life. _________________________________________ Reader Feedback! Thanks for your sense of humor Betty. That's a scream, no pun intended. Hope you finally got to where you were going. In Christ, Nell, seeking Him. nell@stoutsville.net Well, if THAT doesn't break the ice with your new neighbors, what will? Really, Betty, this one had me laughing so hard! You have a wonderful sense of humor and a bright outlook on life. I'd love to be your neighbor! Thanks for brightening my day, Pamela Jenkins ramblinrabbit@juno.com I too, know the fun of helping someone who couldn't get into the" proper status" of into the car. My Mother-in-law was unable to get into the car and we laughed so hard, we cried about my trying to get her there. Those are loving and fond memories of someone I loved so much. I'm sure it was all love that they that sorrowful, yet wonderful, memory. jcausby@rain.org _________________________________________ Thought For The Day: "As I grow older, I pay less attention to what men say. I just watch what they do." --Andrew Carnegie Verse for the Day: "Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do." --James 2:18 Kid's Thought for the day: "If splashing in puddles means you have to wear wet shoes the rest of the day, sometimes it's worth it." Parent's Thought For The Day "Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is soap-on-a-rope." --Bill Cosby Coach's Thought For The Day "I have had players who are good, and know they are good; I have had players who are bad and know they are bad; I have had players who are good, but who don't know they are good; I have had players who are bad, but who don't know they are bad. It is this last group that has won more games for me than the first three groups combined." --Paul "Bear" Bryant Writer's Thought for the Day: "There are two kinds of writer: those that make you think, and those that make you wonder." --Brian Aldiss Deep Thought For The Day: "I'm not saying that the customer service in my bank is bad, but when I went in the other day and asked the clerk to check my balance... she leaned over and pushed me." ___________________________________________ _ /_/\/\ MICHAEL T. POWERS \_\ / HeartTouchers@aol.com /_/ \ "For I have been crucified with Christ and I no \_\/\ \ longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I \_\/ live in the body I live for the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20 ___________________________________________ The copyrights to the stories that appear in HeartTouchers.com are owned by the authors and are used with their permission. We refuse to run stories without the author's permission and contact info listed after the story. We also refuse to publish stories listed as "author unknown." (All of which violates Copyright Law and the rights of the authors.) This e-mail may be forwarded in its entirety, but please do not cut and paste the stories to be used elsewhere unless you have contacted and been given permission by the individual writer. Thank you so much for honoring the rights of those writers who graciously share their stories with us! __________________________________________ Video Imagery --Michael's Video Production Business "I thought of you first after my family sat down to watch the video we gave them. They loved it, to say the least! Within thirty seconds my mom was crying and my dad did too. They said it was the best Christmas gift we could have given them!! You did such a beautiful job! They were so surprised and so touched--they really, really, really loved it. Thanks for helping to make it so special to us all. My mom mentioned how the songs were perfect for the video too! Thanks again!" Kelli-- College Station, TX Let me make you a video from your pictures or home movies! Check out the web page for Michael's video production business! 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