God's Coaching #308

God's Coaching #308

In soccer, you’re supposed to use your head to hit the ball—not another player. But in the final match of the 2006 World Cup, French superstar Zinedine Zidane let his anger get the best of him.

Zizou, as his fans called him, was one of the best soccer players in the world. He had led France to the World Cup finals against Italy. But with the score tied 1–1 late in extra time, he suddenly turned and head butted Italian defender Marco Materazzi in the chest. Marco had insulted Zinedine’s mother, and Zizou reacted with anger. The powerful blow sent the Italian sprawling. Zizou was red carded and ejected from the game. France ended up losing on penalty kicks while their captain sat in the locker room.

Fast-forward four years. Zinedine had said he would never forgive Marco for insulting his mother. Then the two accidentally met in an Italian hotel lobby while visiting a coach who had instructed both players. Rumors swirled after the meeting. Marco confirmed that the two had talked but wouldn’t reveal what was said. “Let’s say I did most of the talking and when at the end he held out his hand, I shook it firmly until he looked me properly in the eye,” Marco told Mediaset TV.

What’s the Score?

The infamous head butt was Zizou’s last act as a professional player, and it left a stain on his stellar career. He had already announced he would retire right after the 2006 World Cup. Did the Frenchman finally forgive his sworn enemy in that hotel? Did he let go of any bitterness in his heart? We may never know.

But we do know that God calls us to forgive even our worst enemies. Colossians 3:13 says to “make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you.” That’s hard to do sometimes. People can hurt us badly—with words or weapons, on purpose or accidentally, once or over and over. Sometimes we need help from parents or other grown-up Christians to deal with our pain and to help us start to forgive. But we start with this: all of our worst, meanest, most rotten, and most hurtful sins killed Jesus—yet he forgave us. If Jesus can do that, he can help us learn to forgive other people who hurt us.

On the Ball

Choose to forgive. List some people who have hurt you.

Say out loud for each name, “I forgive ____________________________. God, help me to really mean it and to show it.”

Coach’s Comment

Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Colossians 3:13