Two People, A Dozen Donuts, and a Box with a Note

Hanging on our refrigerator is a donut box lid with a handwritten note  that reads, "Josh, You are one outstanding player - never backing down but always going forward - Great!  Judy and Grant Ward"  This box, full of donuts, was dropped off at our house last Saturday, the morning after Josh's last High School ballgame. It wasn't the first time that Josh had been gifted a box of donuts.  In fact, it had become a tradition of sorts; four years of donuts, boxes and notes.

As I think back over these years and these donuts, my heart is filled with gratitude for two wonderful people who watched a boy play ball and encouraged him to become a man.   I cried the night that they brought donuts after Josh had fumbled the ball and lost the game for his team.  The note on the box was encouraging and re-assuring, and gave Josh confidence to carry the ball again without fear.   As the boxes of donuts kept coming, whether Josh had a great night on the field or had struggled on the court, it didn't matter; each note applauded his effort and taught him that it's not whether you win or lose, but it's how you play the game.  Judy's and Grant's encouragement was consistent - a mental pat on the back and an unspoken invitation for Josh to work hard, and to give it all he had.

Who would have ever known the impact of two people, a dozen donuts, and the boxes they came in?  If I could go back, I would have saved every donut box and transcribed the valuable note handwritten on the top of each one.  But I don't think Josh will ever forget this last important message, and I hope that what Grant and Judy think he is on the field and on the court, will motivate him as he prepares now to work hard as a missionary, and that just like he did on the court, he'll give life all he has.  "Josh, You are one outstanding player - never backing down but always going forward - Great! Judy and Grant Ward".