At Age 12 I Knew I'd Never Be a Great Cheerleader

I was a cheerleader in middle school. I loved it! And I was a good cheerleader.

But I knew I could never be a great cheerleader.

Why? Because it was too late.

My peers who were great cheerleaders had been involved in dance, gymnastics, and/or cheerleading programs since kindergarten—if not sooner.

I had missed out on years of training.

The great cheerleaders had already invested countless hours after school, year after year after year, throughout their entire childhoods, developing their show-stopping abilities.

It was too late for me. The gap could not be bridged. And 12-year-old me saw that.

I dabbled in dance and gymnastics classes around kindergarten, but I didn’t stick with them.

So at age 12, it was too late.

Lost time is unretrievable.

How great it is that Our Blessed Lord is more forgiving than the world of athletics!

Jesus’ parable of the workers in the vineyard teaches us that God welcomes conversion at all stages of life (Matthew 20:1-16).

People of all ages and backgrounds are welcome to join the Catholic Church. The sacrament of Reconciliation is all encompassing. Our Lord welcomes deathbed conversions. 

I might not have been a great cheerleader, but I know that Our Lord’s mercy is something worth cheering about.

The arena of grace is more forgiving than the athletic arena, because God is no coach building a competitive roster.

He is not a coach. He is our Father.