A Lesson from the Game

Last night, while Trey and I walked around in the cold rain, people watching and taking in all that surrounds an NBA All-Star game, we were bombarded by scalpers trying to sell us tickets. Even 5 minutes before tip-off, they were trying to get $450 for each ticket.  

My son’s little chin started quivering when I explained that daddy can’t pay $900 to watch a game. He wanted so badly to go in out of the rain and cold to watch in the stands with everyone else. 

With shivering hands, Trey would bend down and reach for drenched pieces of paper on the sidewalk – asking me each time if it was a ticket someone may have dropped that we could use.

Passing us, and entering the arena, were those leaving the Ritz-Carlton, clad in outfits that put $900 tickets on a child’s piggy bank level. “VIP” could be clearly seen hanging from a lanyard around their necks. 

I’m 37. I’ve been around these types of events for years. I have athlete friends and CEO friends. I understand that money and who you know can get you in – and I rejoice for those that have tickets or badges – they worked hard. But to a 7 year old, it was tough to comprehend. One day he will appreciate that I did not spend money we did not have.

We had a wonderful night together, nonetheless – dinner at Moe’s, a train ride, and hot chocolate. Just dad and son. Kent and Kent. In the middle of a busy career, we needed quality time.

Later, I snuggled him and talked about the fun we had and reminded him that because of Jesus, we are VIPs in God’s sight. That one day, because of Jesus’ grace and mercy, we will get to enter Heaven’s gates and see Jesus face to face. We don’t deserve it; we can’t earn it or afford it – but God loved us so much, that He sent Jesus to die for our sins, and when we repent of our sins and believe on Him alone for salvation, we become joint heirs with Him. We now have an incorruptible inheritance! All-Star players will grow old, trophies and legacies will fade, but Heaven is eternal.

Thank you, Jesus, for allowing an event to teach such an important reminder.

Have you accepted Jesus? Are your sins forgiven? There is room at the cross for you! Here’s the best part – No fancy suits, passes, or money needed. Jesus loves you, and He gave His life for you. Won’t you accept His gift of salvation today?

KPrainJrLeave a comment

Coming up short

I’m numb.

I gave everything and still came up short.

It’s a terrible and sickening feeling. One that eats and eats at your very soul. Giving everything and still coming up short is not easy to swallow. Twelve months of sacrifices and pure grit and hustle suddenly seem meaningless and you begin to mentally scratch and claw to figure out how it could happen. How it could end this way.

I’m referring to my career in sales. I sell new home construction, and all of us sales reps have one goal in mind each year – to hit President’s Club. President’s Club is determined by achieving a certain percentage above what you are supposed to sell in a given year. Without going into much detail, it equates to a $20,000 bump in pay the following year.

I was blessed to achieve this goal my rookie year, and was motivated even more to re-qualify my second year (2018). After my sales partner left to move to another market back in April, I was determined more than ever. I was alone and it was all on me to make it happen. Over the next 9 months, I pushed hard – sacrificing personal time and family time.

For me, it was all about my family. As the sole provider, I needed the bump in pay to help pay off medical bills and to get us back to being debt free. Though there were many hurdles to overcome, I was bound and determined to make it happen. And I was all in! Down to the wire. Writing sales on December 31. But would it be enough?

My office manger was a gem and ran the numbers late on New Year’s Eve. The email arrived in my inbox, and I opened it. All I remember seeing were the words, “Kent, I am so sorry. You came up ONE sale short”

One sale.

I immediately resonated with those sports players who have experienced an excruciating loss by ONE point, or ONE goal, or by ONE run. Imagine a Major League baseball player sweating and hustling through 162 regular season games to lose by merely ONE run and miss the playoffs – or even worse yet – lose by ONE run in the World Series.

But as cruel as the game of life can be sometimes, a loss is a loss. And coming up a sale short, is a sale short.

So I type this as a testament and a reminder to myself as to why I exist. And that is to give glory to God for His goodness in my life. Though I feel like sitting here in disappointment and despair, I choose to praise Him for a very successful year despite not being back in President’s Club. Most of all, I’m thankful for my buyers who have become friends, and my fellow reps and office staff who are absolutely wonderful, and for my wife and kids who lift me up and who are literally everything I need.

So in the moment, though incredibly disappointed, I thank God for giving me a great career, opportunities to help make dreams come true, and the ability to provide for my family.

How about you? Have you ever experienced coming up short in something you have worked so hard for? I’d love to hear about it!

KPrainJr2 Comments