One of the most exciting parts of a football game is when there's a fumble and your team recovers the ball. Fumbles occur unexpectedly. That's what makes them so exciting. If your team is behind, the recovery gives new life, new hope to win the game. If your team should be ahead, a recovered fumbled helps to seal their victory.
When I first married, Robert, I learned very quickly that either I am going to have many years of torture or I will learn the sport and enjoy it. I chose to learn and enjoy football. I like sports anyway. How hard could it be?
Turns out, football is really fun to watch. The players are not so bad on the eyes either.
Growing up I loved to run. I loved basketball and softball. I ran and played every chance I had. When I was in High School, I wanted to join the basketball team. Then, girl's basketball was half court. There were 3 guards and 3 forwards. You were forbidden to cross the center line. Hahahaha...not sure what would happen if you did. But I loved it. My Dad would not let me play. He said, "Sports are a waste of money." :(
Robert and I have enjoyed watching our children play sports. We've sat for many hours in chairs and bleachers. We are currently sitting in college stadiums watching one of our sons play football. Jamin, child #3, is a sophomore in a Division 1 2A college, kicking football. He has accomplished several mile markers this season. At one point in the season he ranked as high as 3rd in the NCAA. He tied a school record for the 2nd longest field goal. Jamin also broke and set a new school record on the number of field goals made in a season.
Our son is not an ordinary kicker. Of course I am his mother, number one fan, and I am the one writing this blog. :)
But .....
really....
Jamin is not an ordinary kicker. He's 6'3" weighs 185 lbs. He can dead weight lift over 400 lbs. This season he has been credited with 5 tackles. Four of which were solo tackles. In the last game of the season Jamin kicked the ball off. As the runner was coming, he realized that he may be the last player to stop a run back. But an amazing thing happened....
F U M B L E !!!!!!!
Jamin found himself recovering a loose ball. His first fumble recovery. Football fans, players, coaches all know what happens on the bottom of a recovery pile. There's a lot of pinching, scratching, and clawing to get the ball loose....again. Players learn quickly that to recover the ball is one thing. Keeping possession of the ball is another. After the game Jamin was so excited. He said his teammates were yelling, "Hold on to the ball Jamin!" "Hold on to the ball!" As the referees unpiled the stack of players, Jamin proudly came up with the ball in his hands. He had maintained possession. He endured the pain from the other players. What a moment for a player to experience.
I look at my life. I've experienced many victories. I've, unfortunately, had some fumbles too.
I've dropped the ball. I haven't always supported my husband like I should have. I have dropped the ball.
I've not always been a good mother. I'm sure I haven't prayed enough for my children. I haven't taught them enough about God, school, friends, and sex.
I'm sure I've not been as friendly to others as I should have been.
Thank GOD I serve a God of second and third chances.
I have the Heavenly Host, Holy Scriptures, friends and family cheering me on. "Hold on Donna!" Hang in there!" "Jesus is with you!" "You're NOT alone!" "God loves you!"
Lamentations 3:22-23 (KJV)
It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
In spite of my life fumbles.....
In spite of the scratches, pinches, and clawing this life puts on me and you....we can recover.
You will recover. I will recover.
This is not my final play.
