"He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much." -Luke 16:10 NKJV

There are many roles on a team that basketball coaches/staff/players are given and are necessary in order for the team to function, excel, and reach their ultimate goal of winning. The head coach is the leader on the bench. There are assistant coaches and athletic trainers who prepare their players physically for the game with stretching and taping them in addition to helping those who are injured. Next, you have the players. Their roles can vary. There are star players whose role is to score the basketball. There are team leaders who inspire, encourage, and motivate on and off the court. Then, there are those who practice with the team but may not play a lot. Other roles are to hustle and be a defensive stopper. A defensive stopper is willing to do whatever it takes on the defensive end of the basketball court to help his or her team be successful. This includes blocking shots, stealing the basketball, getting deflections, or a taking charges.

Charges drawn is a very underrated statistic that isn’t necessarily flashy, and it may not cause others to watch highlights because of it. How ever, taking charges is just as effective as getting a steal, blocking a shot, or getting a deflection. When a person takes a charge, the defensive player gets in the way of the offensive player in hopes of getting a defensive stop and ultimately helping his or her team get another offensive possession.

One player who has had tremendous success at taking charges during his 11-year NBA career is the 6’9” forward for the Milwaukee Bucks, Er san Ilysova. During the 2016-17 season, he led the NBA with 36 charges drawn. The next season, he was second in the league with 32 charges. Also, IIysova led the NBA with 49 charges during the 2018-19 season. In addition to his amazing feel of the game on the defensive end, Ersan IIysova has had an amazing career of scoring the basketball with his great shooting touch from the perimeter. The sharpshooting charge taker has a career scoring average of 10.3 points per game.

Have you ever thought about some small things that God has done in your life? For example, being alive for another day, a random person pay ing for our coffee at a coffee shop, someone letting you in line in front of them at a grocery store because they notice that you have less items to checkout than they do, etc. What if you someone who is less fortunate than you are approaches you and ask for money or help in general. Are you thankful to God blessing you with the finances to be able to help? Always remember that we are blessed to be a blessing.

In this social media culture, we begin to compare our lives to others, or we compare what we have to what others have. We fail to realize that we are doing nothing but causing ourselves unnecessary stress. God created us all differently. We are of different races, from different cultures, with different socioeconomic backgrounds, personalities, testimonies, etc. God has given us various gifts that are we are to use to glorify His name and make Him known to others in this world. It is so important for us to recognize that everyone may be at different points in their walk with God. We don’t know what others have gone through to get to where they are. Focus on being the best person that you can be knowing that God has a plan for your life. Grow in your personal relationship with God so that you can be all He has called you to be and so that you can receive everything He has for you. Philippians 2:12-13 lets us know, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” Don’t take advantage of anything that God has done in your life whether big or small. Be thankful for all the things that He has done in your life and be thankful for who God is.

Be thankful for the little things.

-Romans 8:10-20

-Romans 12:19

-1 John 4:7-21

-Galatians 2:20

-Ephesians 1:13-14

-Zechariah 4:10