A Football Life

Fall is in full swing and I love it.

The cooler nights, the autumn breeze, and of course--football.

Football has become an integral part of our lives. Our fourteen year old son, Jonah, is completely obsessed. Obsessed with his quarterback position on the Freshman team and obsessed with the Steelers.

On the field, he is calm, cool and smooth. Off of the field he has fiery energy that is difficult to describe. Many people have their opinion about kids playing football--the injury risks, etc...

But this game is forming my Jonah into the person he was meant to be. It has been a platform for him to channel his energy and passion in a positive way. He has blossomed into a leader, and I am so very proud of him. Since sixth grade, he has been the one that pulls the team together on the sideline and leads them in prayer---even now, on the public school football field. I am in awe each week.

 He has been fortunate to have had in the past, and has currently---wonderful coaches that pour into all of the boys. They are not just teaching football skills and plays. They have been instilling life skills that these kids will remember their entire lives. 

So, do I worry about the possibility of injuries? Of course. All moms do.

But I know that I know that if I had discouraged Jonah and not allowed him to play this game he loves so much, he would not have the confidence he has now, and I would have squelched his passion for life. 

My prayer this week is that you will, despite your fears, encourage your children to do what they love, use their God given gifts...and bask in watching them become the individuals they were meant to be.

~Maria

  

Blessings

Singer/songwriter Laura Story song, “Blessings” chorus says beautifully, “What if your blessings come through raindrops, what if your healing comes through tears, what if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near? What if trials of this life, are Your mercies in disguise.”

Blessings come in all sorts of shapes and sizes-and sights and sounds.

They’re everywhere. All the time. All around us. We may not notice them.

But they are there.

If you or anyone you love has ever been sick, hurt, or disabled, you may have already witnessed many of these blessings. I like to call them little reminders that God is with us-in everything-EVERYTHING-and He sees us, and hears the cries of our hearts.

In the midst of my daughter’s “phases” of recovering from her recent surgery, she still continues to amaze me. I know it is her voice telling me things she is thinking and feeling, but I know that I know it is the Holy Spirit speaking through her amazing body, to comfort me, and show me multiple blessings.

After her second casting this week, she was scared and in pain…and said to me in her twelve year old voice, “Mom, I might cry when I say this to you….but I am proud of myself.” And I was the one crying. In the middle of probably the worst pain she’s ever had, and the struggle between her thoughts and her body, she said exactly what was on her mind. And she is proud.

And it makes me proud.

It was my little blessing of the day.

You see, if you are in too much of a hurry of your day, your schedule, your appointments, your kid’s schedules…you may miss these beautiful reminders.

As a mom, I was so apprehensive about this surgery, and the outcome….I always wonder if I make the right decisions for her, and for her future. It’s just a mom’s nature to want what’s best for her, and to make decisions that will benefit her…and doubt always seeps in. Worry and anxiety creeps into my mind, and I try not to show it to her.

Then, again, shortly after she was adjusting to the feeling of this new cast, she walked up the steps-alone-even though I told her to wait for me to go behind her and for her to go slow….

I voiced that she was making me nervous, and yet again, I was fortunate enough to get the second blessing of the day she said… “Mom, I am strong and brave, and you don’t have to worry about me.”

She might as well have said, “Jesus wants you to know He is here, in all of this, and He doesn't want you to worry anymore. He is taking care of me.”

Again, I was crying, thanking God for the beautiful miracle girl He gave me so I can be reminded of His love and His presence.

My prayer this week is that you know He is in your everyday world-He knows you like no other-and He sees your pain, your hurts, your smiles, and your tears.

He is showing you through blessings that may not appear like fireworks, but they are in the voice of a loved one, a sight in nature, or a gesture of a kind stranger.

Pay attention.

The blessings are there.

He is there. 

~Maria

Keep Walking

Recently, my daughter had surgery. Pretty major surgery--her orthopedic surgeon had to cut and lengthen the heel chord of her left leg to allow her heel to hit the ground while she walks.

It was very painful, and she is still wearing a cast...four weeks later.

She is so resilient, as usual. I was worried and anxious prior to the surgery---contemplating all the pain she would be in. She was in an enormous amount of pain for the first week. Then, her amazing physical therapist worked with her to encourage her to walk on it.

Walk on it? I thought she was crazy!
How could she even begin to want to put pressure on the ground with that foot while being in so much pain??

But as usual, she surprised me. Even though she was in pain, just 5 days after this major surgery, she started to walk...taking little baby steps--but walking.

Despite all her pain. She kept moving...and continues to move--and will until they remove her cast next week. Then her orthotist will mold her new brace, and she will get yet another cast while we wait for the brace to be made.

As a mom, my heart hurts that she must endure all of this.
But to her-it's just a part of her life.

She is twelve, and she continually teaches me how we all should live our lives.

Face each challenge as it comes.

Challenges are not your entire life, just part of it.

...And keep walking in spite of your pain.

"...let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. And endurance develops maturity of character. And character produces joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation. Such hope never disappoints or shames us, for God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us. " (Rom 3-5, Amp)

~Maria