Jeff Kemp for eleven seasons was a National Football League quarterback for various clubs. Jeff recently told about his being picked up as a free agent in 1981, in which he was designated as fifth-string quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams.
In Jeff's own words, "It was a 50-to-1 shot I would survive training camp." All rookies are the only players required to show up for the first week of camp. Jeff told about the time after two days, a young boy approached him and asked if he could carry his helmet to the locker room. It was a long way, but Jeff said, "Sure, I think you can handle that." All that week the boy showed up before and after practice with the same offer to carry his helmet and pads. On the last day, as Jeff and his young assistant departed the practice field, the boy said, "Jeff, can I ask you a question?"
Jeff thought, "This is my first fan! He is going to ask me for an autograph!"
Then the boy inquired, "When do the good football players come to camp?"
Right then and there Jeff learned a lesson in humility from a seven-year-old boy. Lessons in humility can be harsh, cold, and hurtful. That may be why God's Word says to "Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble." (1 Peter 5:5-6). We all can use a reminder of God's grace.
