I Still Love The Colts (or Why Loyalty Is Important)
I’m a Colts fan.
Not one of those crazy stand-in-the-snow and paint your body blue and white kind of fans. But I do own a Colts Snuggie. And I am NOT sharing a photo of that!
Truth is, this year was rough for the Colts. In Week 7, we tied the Dolphins for the third worst loss in NFL history. 62-7. At the end of the season, we ranked 28th in both offense and defense, and Special Teams came in dead last in the league.
But I’m still a fan.
Why? Loyalty.
Loyalty is important to me.
For a long time in my life, I was fully focused on me. Every emotional transaction centered around what I could get out of a particular conversation or relationship. If someone asked me to help them study, I didn’t think “Wow, that must be tough to ask…she must be having a hard time, and I’d be honored to help.” No, I thought “She’s popular. If I help her, maybe she’ll ask me to come to her party after the game next week.”
Even worse, when I thought of everything in terms of myself, I expected everyone else to think the same way. And like a self-fulfilling prophesy, those people found their way into my life. While I was busy trying to use them, they were just as busy trying to use me.
When I got out on my own, I made choices based on what felt good and what sounded easy. I used other people to get myself further ahead. It worked for a little while, but little things started falling apart. Then big things started falling apart.
That’s when I learned my first lesson about loyalty. One person–someone I had pretty much treated like crap–stuck by me. I crashed my car, lost my job, lost my boyfriend. (in hindsight, the job and the boyfriend weren’t all that great to start with….I still miss that car!) But I didn’t lose the love of a friend I had treated incredibly badly, but who truly cared about me.
She opened my eyes just a little to the type of loyalty that God has for us, and that he expects us to have for the people around us.
I don’t have it all figured out yet. I still don’t always get it right. But I continue to cheer for the Colts.
What is your favorite sports team? Why? Leave a comment and tell us about it.
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About Christine
I am a writer, a project manager, and a corporate refugee with a heart for orphans around the world. My two daughters were adopted from Ukraine at ages 12 and 14. I post about writing, chasing dreams, and making a difference in the world, and sometimes I share fun snippets of fiction in-progress.
I’m all about the Cocalico Eagles HS Boys Varsity LAX team…I’m the head coach!!
Was checking out a few of your adoption stories, very cool! It’s something that I’ve thought about on and off for a little while. My wife & I have a 15month old daughter at home, and my wife really wants another child, but trying to listen to God and am having difficulty paying good attention at the moment. Blessings to you and your family of four!
Welcome, Steve! ….GO EAGLES! (since it’s not the Philadelphia Eagles, i’m comfortable screaming that!)
If you or your wife have any questions, please give me a shout! it can be a really overwhelming process…I always recommend people start at https://loving-shepherd.org/adoption-services/adoption-resources.html They have an online process that can really help you narrow it down!
Was that the car you crashed on your way to the party at my house? The one you were going to teach me to drive a stick shift with? I never did learn how to drive a stick…
It was….but more importantly, you’re the friend I treated like crap over and over again who didn’t give up on me. If I had a stick, I’d teach you to drive it.