Greetings to all; I know it has been some time since I've written but there has not been alot that has happened since the second week of school. I suppose that is a good thing however, but I do wish to share with you one great event that I will savor for a long time to come. As most of you know, my son Matthew is on the 7th grade football team. He is very excited to be a part of that group and hopefully will make lots of friends that he can keep for some time. His first game was last Friday, 9/21/07, and though he didn't start the game I felt like something good was going to happen. Matts team has three levels of defense, a red squad, a blue squad, and a white squad. Matt is a part of the white squad of the defense. As this level is the team that is sent in when the team is leading by alot he didn't get to play until the 3rd quarter. Matt is noticeably the hugest player on the team so it was east to pick him out when he went in. For the first five plays he seemed quite timid coming off the ball when it was snapped. His team did a good job though and managed to hold the line anyway. In the two plays that Matt came out of the game, the other team had moved the ball down to the 1 yard line and was getting ready to score. The coach put Matt back in, but it wasn't enough to stop the run for the opposing teams touchdown. As the running back scored off of Matt I watched him to see how he would react to it. I was pleasantly suprised to see that he was disappointed but not freaking out. What happened next will live in my mind forever. At this level of football, extra point attempts are not kicked. They are decided by either a running play, worth 2 points, or a passing play, worth 1 point. As luck would have it, the opposing team lined up for the same running play they just executed for their touchdown. I prayed that Matt would noticed this and be ready for it this time. My prayers were answered. As the ball was snapped, Matt moved himself into position to bounce off of the offensive lineman and right into the running back where three other of his teammates collectively sacked the runner short of the goal line thwarting the extra point attempt and preventing no more points to be scored against them on that drive. Coincidentally, the other team never scored at all for the rest of the game. Matts team won the game 36-14. The victory celebration that followed in my heart was greater than all the superbowls, world series', NBA finals', and all other sports finals that could ever happen. MY son was and is a CHAMPION, and if he doesn't have any other moments in his life like that again, he will always remain my CHAMP.
We all know what it takes for a "normal" child to reach that level of expectability with their parents. But, oh how much sweeter the rewards are when it is one of our kids that can rise to the occasion and, if for only one day, be raised in the spotlight by other than family and enjoy what it means to have accomplished something all by themselves. If I should die tomorrow, I can surely say that I have been blessed. To all who struggle with the afflictions of what your children suffer from, may you experience such joy in your future. If you have been moved by these events, please give to the tip jar to help find a cure for what ails your child and as always, thank you.
Comments