Last fall, we happened to pass by a local high school cheerleading team practising, and we stopped to watch for a while. It made me think of something I had just heard on the news. Something that shocked me. Cheerleading is the second most dangerous youth sport in this country. No kidding! It is a major source of life altering trauma, second only to football. When you think about it, football players have helmets and protective gear, but cheerleaders have none. Plus they have no mats and no spotters. And if you have seen some of their moves lately, they are quite something, with the throws, pyramids, and jumps. The bible says that cheerleading is a wonderful thing. And it's something that we can all do, no matter what our circumstance. Did you know that it is considered a gift, to be used and given freely? Kind of like love.
"We have different gifts, according to the grace given us...if it is encouraging, let him encourage..." Romans 12
"For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."
1 Thess. 5:9,11
30 comments:
We didn't use to have that kind of cheerleading here. (But then we don't have your kind of football either.) Recently I guess cheerleading must have crept in here too as a sport because I saw recently on Facebook that a friend's daughter was involved in it. I'm not at all surprised that it involves a high risk of injury...
You're quite gifted with the other kind of cheerleading, though!
Well, I had no idea..I never did any of that but yikes..I can imagine a sprained ankle! Glad things are looking up..well, this is encouraging anyway. I'm taking a short break- felt really strange all day, hmm? (Shouldn't be long). Glad you enjoyed that too:)
My cheerleading group back then did not have all those dangerous moves, ours were simple, graceful, and still artistic, that's why I have to discourage my 16 year girl to join one and instead encourage her to join basketball...less...dangerous, though she had some bumps and scratches....blessings Ginny.
My girl was a cheerleader when she was 13 and 14.. the way she stretched her legs, I was horrified.. and since she is the petite type, she was being carried up... it was dangerous, yes!! now at 17, she is in the aerobic team, thank goodness!
What a wonderful concept! Some biblical cheerleaders have definitely made a difference in my life. As for the current cheerleader moves, I have spent a lot of games praying, all through my son's high school and college years. . . praying that he would not drop his stunt partner during those lifts, flips and tosses. His partners' mothers always let me know they were grateful when their daughters were assigned to our cheerleader son because they knew he wouldn't drop them. What I never saw but learned about after his cheering days were over, that he held on even when a partner's feet, arms, hands or head missed the mark and inflicted extreme pain, a frequent occurrence in this sport. Thankfully, that caused no permanent damage. The lifting was another story. He left college with a degree and back pain.
I am thankful that I don't need to be a perfect size 4 to be Biblical cheerleader.(I don't really know what size these girls are,but they are small)Giving encouragement to others is really not that hard,but yet,many times I fail to do it.
Ruth
this fits right in with God comforts us in order that we can comfort others. back in my school days cheerleading was just that, a little jumping and shouting, not like what i see on TV these days, and it does look dangerous. Christian cheerleading is not dangerous to do but is sometimes just as hard to do. thanks for an uplifting post.
Today's cheerleaders' routines do look dangerous and high risk! I usually have to look away! Good analogy and good thoughts for us today!
Beautiful post Ginny... I love watching a bit of cheerleading, though its very uncommon in India...
And the header is just mine blowing...
Have a nice day:-)
Wow Ginny... I didn't know that you all had Palm Trees up there in VA...... I guess that Sandra mailed them to you... ha ha ha
Cheering for God is so important. None of my kids/grands were involved in cheerleading --but all of them played/play sports... There is danger in most everything... Keep on CHEERING!!!
Hugs,
Betsy
Hi Ginny, I think of your blog here as a virtual cheerleader! Have a super nice and cheerful day!
I knew about the dangers of cheerleading, but it seems that the routines just getting more and more athletic.
Ginny..it's up! Wow, what a header! Love the red..
I'm sure I undercooked my grilled oysters!! (husband only had steak)..so I was up alllll night! I saw a picture somewhere of a guy in bed who looked sick..he was holding his blackberry out while under the covers with an awful expression on his face!! ha ha- that's me!
My great niece is a cheerleader. I looked for her in your photos but can't pick her out. It's probably not even her school. She's a sophomore at Harrisonburg. Can't think of the school name.
Great header!
Best,
Bonnie
I didn't know that about cheerleading either, but I am surprised.
love,sandie
Yay Ginny! Glad to see you're no longer blue... but you are now cheering.
Cheerleading does look like it could be a bit dangerous...
Hi Ginny, I have heard that about cheerleading..It is so dangerous. I'm kindof glad my daughter got into that!
Also you won the cards!! My daughter pulled your name second!
I couldn't believe it :) I was happy!!
Please send my your address and I will get them right out!
dgm1930@gmail.com
xxoo
Deborah
Hhhmmmm....do you think I would make a good cheerleader? I think I would make a better football player....
cheerleading has changed quite a bit since my day.
That first picture had me totally puzzled because when I looked at it I thought that the one looked like they had a beard. I finally realized that it was the girls pony tail up near her face while she was jumping...lol
Cheerleading these days is almost as much of a sport as football, those kids really have to be on the top of their game to execute the moves.
Ginny, the sky in your header looks a little angry.
Well - that is depressing. But - reasonable when you think about it. I used to watch university/college cheerleading competitions on TV. My gosh, those girls are real athletes and yes, it is dangerous.
Everyone needs to cheered on. Those of us fortunate to be surrounded by loving families have no need of a cheering squad :-). I honestly didn't know how dangerous it was. I hope you have a great day. Blessings...Mary
I like the thought that we are all cheerlearder. Fascinating how you always work in the bibical bent in your photos.
Your header photo is awesome!
Having a daughter that was in cheerleading for a few years, you're right, there are no spotters and no real training. Scary!
My daughter was a cheerleader and she looked so pretty in her uniform. She went to cheer leading competitions with her group and it was quite exciting. They take that stuff very seriously. I was never a cheerleader because we didn't have that in Germany when I grew up.
Have a lovely day!
I think so many young girls begin gymnastic classes as children that when they get to high school age they feel they can be more daring as cheerleaders. Is the most dangerous youth sport football?
Whatever cheerleading I've seen is only on TV and in the movies. You're right about the moves..pretty dangerous!
Nyssa was a JV cheerleader, but they confined them to small pyramids. They didn't have the strength to toss the girls up in all those fancy routines. Thank goodness for common sense in the teachers.
wow.... can't wait to see the kids doing those activities already. wish it's already spring.
I like to see how cheerleaders can "fly" up the air.
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