Gratitude After the Game

Gratitude After the Game

A father’s reflection on composure, growth, and gratitude after the game

This morning at the bowling alley, I found myself watching Bella in a different way. Not as a coach or a competitor, but as a dad standing in quiet gratitude. The matches were over, the sound of pins had faded, and the morning light filled the lanes. That’s when I saw her slip on her Team USA backpack — calm, composed, and at peace.

In that small moment, I saw how much she’s grown. The way she moves now carries a confidence that wasn’t built overnight. It’s the kind of confidence that comes from discipline, focus, and awareness developed one frame at a time. She’s learned to breathe through frustration, stay steady under pressure, and hold herself with grace no matter the outcome.

Barbi and I stood back and smiled, letting it all sink in. Years of practices, travel, and early mornings have shaped her, but so has the quiet maturity that now radiates from her presence. We weren’t celebrating a score — we were celebrating growth.

As she walked out with her backpack across her shoulders, I thanked God for who she’s becoming. For the way she uses her gifts. For the lessons of patience, perseverance, and purpose that she’s living out each day. Watching her grow has been one of life’s greatest blessings, and this morning, gratitude filled the space between every thought.