Session 9: Character Over Culture

Proverbs 22:6 (NIV)

“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”

As a former inner-city athlete, I know the game—and I know when a coach doesn’t see your kid as “that guy.” So when my son didn’t play until the fourth quarter of his AAU game, I understood the message. In AAU, the rotation tells the truth. The coach waited until the lead was safe—basically when it didn’t matter who checked in. That stung, especially for a parent who once hooped and wanted better opportunities for his kid. I looked over expecting frustration or disappointment—but he surprised me.

Every time the team made a good play, my son stood up, cheered, and encouraged his teammates. And when he finally got in, he gave 110% until the final buzzer.

That day, I saw Godly character in him—the fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5:22: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Growing up, my own character didn’t always look like that. When I felt disrespected, I reacted hard, wanting people to feel what I felt.

Scripture says, “You reap what you sow.” If I sow love, I’ll reap love. If I sow anger and bitterness, that’s what comes back—to me and to my kids. They watch us more than they listen. Our example—good or bad—is a seed. And seeds need water, guidance, and God’s help to grow.

Parenting is a divine assignment, and I’m still learning. But when I doubt whether this kind of character is possible, I remember my son on that court—a small moment he may forget, but one God used to remind me what the fruit of the Spirit looks like in real life.