The Amazing Memory of a Young Sports Fan – Part One

What It Teaches Us About Imparting Eternal Truths to Her Peers

Kalee is a big fan of the Seattle Seahawks (They play at CenturyLink Field [formerly Qwest Field], pictured on the left). She has memorized the names of all the players. That’s right—all the players—not just the well known quarterback and wide receiver, but the center and the right guards as well, and even the strong safety! Not only that, but she knows every player’s number and position. She knows the coaches’ names, too!

As remarkable as it is that Kalee Buetow knows so much about the Seahawks, here’s what’s really stunning. She’s three years old. There have been several stories in the news about her because she is so cute and seems to be a genius at this stuff. Here’s a news report about Kalee that’s been posted on YouTube.

Did Kalee take an interest in all these facts about the Seattle Seahawks and decide to memorize them on her own? You know she didn’t! Her dad, Evan Buetow, coached her. He has been very deliberate in helping her learn all the names and statistics. And note carefully—this hasn’t been drudgery; father and daughter have had a great deal of fun together talking about the Seahawks. In the news story cited above, we see shot of Kalee all snuggled up in her bed. Her dad is sitting on the edge of the bed asking her questions about the team’s players. “It kind of turned into a bedtime ritual,” says Evan. Now I don’t know this family, but they seem to be a great family. In fact, in one report I saw, they commented about loving Jesus. Good for them!

I’d like to highlight two things about Kalee Buetow’s story that are instructive for us. First, let’s note that as Kalee and her Dad interact, much more is happening than learning on the part of a three-year-old. A father-daughter relationship is being solidified and strengthened, so from that standpoint alone, the value of this interaction cannot be calculated.

Yet there’s something else we’re reminded of. Does Kalee have a keen ability to remember things? Sure, but the truth is that just about all preschoolers have a remarkable ability to remember—yet in most cases those abilities aren’t being tapped and developed.

Preschoolers are like sponges. They can learn amazing things if we show them something is both important and fun. For Christians, nothing is more important, nor is anything else a source of greater joy, than the things of God, the eternal things.

If you’re like me, then the Bible verses you remember best as an adult are the ones you learned as a child. So, can we agree right now that learning Bible verses, treasure troves of eternal truths, is far more important than learning the roster of a football team’s players? Keep in mind this roster will change as soon as next year!

OK. How can I work to help my own kids learn Scripture? With what Bible verses should I start? Let’s explore these questions in part two.

David Morrow
Preschool Pastor
Long Hollow Baptist Church
Hendersonville, Tennessee

Read other articles by David Morrow.

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