As the drum major for the Baldwin

County "Band of the Braves," I directed the national anthem

many Friday nights before kickoff. It's a great piece to direct, but I

would not want to solo it. Standing in front of a crowd, I'm afraid I'd

forget the words.

Natalie Gilbert did. Natalie

is a 13-year-old eighth grader from Lake Oswego, Oregon, who won the chance

to sing the anthem at the first playoff home game on April 25 through

the Toyota "Get the Feeling of a Star" promotion with the Portland

Trailblazers. The contestants had to perform in front of judges and the

Rose Garden crowd on three occasions, and Natalie made the final cut.

The big day came and Natalie

was ill with the flu. She spent the entire day in bed, but she was determined

to take her spot for the big moment. She performed the song perfectly

in the locker room before the game, but when she took the floor in the

spotlight of national television and a Rose Arena crowd of 20,000, she

got as far as "twilight's last gleaming" before she went blank.

She was obviously struggling.

She seemed so alone and frightened for a moment, when to the rescue came

Blazer head coach Maurice Cheeks. Cheeks walked up beside her, put his

arm around her and prompted her with the words: "whose broad stripes

and bright stars . . ."

He was out of tune, but still

he sung with her, gesturing the players and crowd to join in, also. Natalie

got back on track, and the packed house, the players, Maurice and Natalie

finished the song together. He told her, "don't worry kid. Everyone

has a bad game once in awhile." That was probably the former NBA

standout's greatest assist.

It was a powerful picture

of encouragement. That's what we must do for one another. Stand beside

people who are struggling, put our arms around them, and help them sing

their song, even if we can't carry a tune in a bucket.

Baseball great Willie Mays

began his major league career with a struggle. He only had one hit in

his first 26 at-bats. Though he went on to hit 660 homeruns and steal

more than 300 bases, his debut was so unimpressive it seemed unlikely

he would last more than a few weeks as a big-leaguer, let alone become

a hall of famer.

After another miserable performance,

Giants manager Leo Durocher found Mays crying in the dugout after the

game. The manager put his arm around Mays and asked, "what's the

matter, son?"

Mays replied, "I can't

hit up here. I belong in the minors."

Durocher responded, "As

long as I'm the manager of the Giants, you'll be my centerfielder."

That belief and support spurred Mays along, and soon after that the hits

started coming. And Mays became a baseball legend.

Encouragement was a turning

point for Mays. The Bible says, "encourage one another and build

each other up," (I Thessalonians 5:11). That's what encouragement

does. When you believe in someone and offer true encouragement, you help

to renew their strength. You are a people builder.

Do you know someone who needs

a little encouragement? Your encouragement can be the turning point in

their life.

(Dr. David L. Chancey is pastor,

McDonough Road Baptist Church. The church family meets at 352 McDonough

Road and invites you to join them this Sunday for Bible study at 9:45

a.m. and worship at 10:55 a.m.).

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