My kids have tried a few sports activities since they were young. First, they were into running. Eventually, they were into swimming. Then, they tried biking. Next, they tried karate. The most recent that they tried was chess.

Our boys enjoyed most of these sports. I think it helps that my husband likes sports as well. He has joined marathons and running events. He also joined a duathlon before. My husband and I also play chess. In fact, we were the ones who taught our kids to play the game.

Now, my two older kids usually beat me in chess. But that’s not the main story in this blog post. hahaha

One of the things that I noticed about these sports events is that a lot of them, especially their competitions, were scheduled on Sundays. Some have classes on Sundays.

There were some events and classes in the past wherein our kids joined the Sunday classes and competitions because we were not given a choice by their clubs or teachers.

And during those times, my heart was not happy. Over time, I became increasingly disturbed and I voiced out my disagreement to my husband.

I’m happy that my kids were and still are into sports. But I’m not happy that their sports classes or events are happening on Sundays.

We are a family of devout Catholics. We don’t just go to church or attend Mass on Sundays. We actively participate and serve in our parish. My husband and I and our kids are all part of ministries and it is typical for us to be spending our time on Sundays serving in the church or in our ministry. We also attend many religious activities.

When our kids have classes or competitions on Sundays, not only are our schedules disrupted, I believe that it takes our focus away from God. God does not become a priority in our schedule because we have to adjust to the schedules set by event organizers or teachers and coaches.

Instead of having unhurried time for prayer and worship or for family, our Sunday becomes rushed and the time for Mass or Bible reading and study is crammed, if given time at all, since sports competitions lasts for many hours.

Even before I got married, I knew the kind of family life that I wanted and I had a vision of what our Sundays as a family would look like. It was clear to me that Sundays are for God and for family. The main focus for our family is to spend time with God in worship and growing in our relationship with Him. It can also be spent serving God through the Church or its ministries. Next to God, Sundays are for our family members to bond with each other and strengthen our relationships with each other. Sundays are also a time of rest for us. Rest from work for my husband and me. Rest from school work for our kids.

We also read and discuss the Bible daily. It’s the first activity that my boys and I usually do in the morning as part of our daily morning routine and of our homeschool. We do this, too, on Sundays and I really want us to spend more time discussing God’s Word as a family on Sundays since my husband doesn’t have work during that day.

So, when our boys had classes and competitions on Sundays, naturally, I was disappointed and I felt that it wasn’t right.

I wanted our kids to take seriously God’s command which is to honor and make holy the Sabbath. Personal pursuits, no matter how good or noble, in my opinion, can be done on the other days of the week.

After voicing my opinion to my husband, we agreed that the kids will no longer take classes on Sundays unless it is a catechism class, which is about our faith.

When our second child became a chess scholar of the National Chess Federation and the Philippine Sports Commission last year, we were very happy. But I had mixed emotions when it was announced that the free classes for the chess scholars were every Sunday morning.

I didn’t really like that my son had to rush eating breakfast and, many times, he had to eat his breakfast either ahead of the rest of the family or while having his online chess class. After months of classes and training, these classes were over at the beginning of this year.

Although I was grateful for the opportunity and free classes and training that my son received, I was not happy with the schedule. Thus, when it was announced that they can continue attending free chess lessons if they wanted to, I voiced out my request that we would prefer a Saturday schedule instead of a Sunday class. I also shared with the coaches and the other parents why.

Again, I am grateful for the dedication of the coaches and the opportunities given to talented kids like my son. However, the schedule does not align with what I want our family to prioritize on Sundays.

We may not be formally homeschooling on Sundays, but how we live our life, how we spend our time, during these days are powerful teachings to our children whom we are trying to raise to become good Christians.

I want our children to learn and remember that God should be above everything and everyone in their lives. Nothing should be more important to them than God. I want them to live this out. I want this truth to be evident in their choices and in their lives. I want them to make their faith and their relationship with God the most important relationship in their lives. I want them to make their faith and their relationship with God their greatest treasure.

That is why, as much as possible, if I could find them competitions or tournaments that are not scheduled on Sundays or Holy Days, that’s when I want them to compete. If I can find classes for them on weekdays, that’s when they will have lessons. I want them to learn that there is a time for every activity under heaven. That their time with God is more important than any medal, trophy, title, or accomplishment.

Mark 8:36 says, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?”

My children are still young. They have much to learn. But among all the lessons that they need to learn, I want them to learn to be wise. Even if they become the best chess player in their age group or in the world, if they do not learn how to be wise, then all their medals, trophies, or success will be empty.

To be truly wise and successful is to know what is most important in life.

And what is most important? Our souls. Our souls are eternal. Thus, I do not want my kids to think that medals, trophies, titles, or anything on this earth are more important than their souls.

Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” This is what I want my children to live by.

I know this to be true because I had been living it out since my youth. I have chosen to make God first and foremost in my life. And God proved to me over and over, that His favor rests on those who honor Him and choose to be faithful to Him even when no one is looking.

I have experienced considerable success in life. But I did all these following God’s Will and commands. I want my kids to experience the same things. I don’t want them to be successful at the expense of their souls or their most important relationships, like their relationship with their family members. Without a family or loved ones to celebrate your victories with, it is lonely at the top.

For us Christians, there are many things in this world that are not aligned with God’s teachings. We are living in this world. But we are not of this world. We do not feel comfortable with many of the things of this world because we were made for heaven. We were made for things eternal.

All those medals, trophies, titles, etc. will one day rot. All these will pass away. Our earthly bodies will pass away. But our souls will live forever. Where we want our souls to live forever, in heaven or in hell, depends on the choices that we make while we are still alive here in this world.

What else is more important than medals, trophies, titles, and accolades? Our lives.

That is why I also told our kids early in the pandemic that they will not join any face-to-face competition (in sports and in other areas) during this pandemic. Our main goal is to stay alive and healthy while there is a pandemic. If we survive this pandemic, they will have plenty of opportunities in the future. We will not endanger their lives or our family members’ lives just for a certificate, medal, trophy, or title. I want them to learn, even at an early age, to be wise. To know and understand that life is always more important and valuable than any tangible reward, even if that is worth millions of dollars.

Therefore, I have also declined and passed up many opportunities like free classes and tournaments, locally and abroad, which our children could have joined. I have shared with some coaches and arbiters why we choose not to join. They may not agree with me. But, at least, I was honest with them.

My children understand, actually. It’s amazing how these kids are wise beyond their years. Sometimes, kids understand big things like these more than many adults these days.

I’m grateful to God that we are homeschooling them. Through this method of education, my husband and I are the most influential people in their lives. They get to encounter and interact with other teachers and coaches. But, we still get to choose who their teachers and coaches are. My prayer is that God would lead us to teachers and coaches who are also devout Christians and Catholics, who also want to honor and obey God above anything else. I also pray that God would move the hearts of sports leaders locally and abroad so that they would not schedule events and competitions on Holy Days or Sundays. That way, they would use their authority and influence to lead more people, kids especially, closer to God and not away from Him.

Are you also a Christian or Catholic family? Are your kids into sports also? Do they join competitions as well? What are your thoughts on competitions and classes on Sundays?