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This morning I am sitting in a hotel lobby in Dallas, TX awaiting the day.  It is quiet this morning and my coffee is hot.  Catherine’s family says goodbye to Grandpa Bowman today.  We came down to Dallas to be with Catherine’s dad as he says his farewells.  The family will reunite today and draw strength from one another.  It is in these times that family becomes so important.  Old relationships are renewed, and new relationships are formed.  My thoughts and prayers go up for the Bowman family today.  May God bless you all.

As I consider the day ahead, my thoughts are directed to my boys at home.  We are so blessed to have Garrett and Grayson.  Just the other night in Garrett’s football game, he ran down the field on kick-off and had a violent collision with the ball carrier.  I immediately knew that he hurt something.  He got up and started toward the sideline and his left arm was hanging straight down.  With a grimmace on his face he came over and told me that his arm was on fire.  I immediately knew that he had a stinger.

A few plays later, when we went back on offense, I looked at him and asked if he wanted me to tell the head coach that he was done.  The look he gave me was one I won’t soon forget.  He looked at me as if I was crazy.  Dad, you can’t keep me out of this game, I must do my part for the team.  (My thoughts, not his words) 

From a father’s perspective, I didn’t want him to hurt that shoulder any more than it already was.  I wanted to protect him from further injury.  I don’t think my perspective was wrong, but I failed to see that my son was willing to go back on to the field of battle for the sake of the team, even though it will mean more pain.

I wonder how often I take myself out of the game of life when things get difficult?  When I experience pain, or hardship, do I ask God to set me on the bench?  I have been encouraged by the tenacity and courage of Garrett this week, because when he realized that he would have to play with the pain, he simply pressed on. That is what we have to do when we encounter pain and adversity in our lives.  We realize that there will be pain, but we choose not to come out of the game and rely upon God’s strength and not our own.  

I have come to realize that often times we see great things happen in the midst of pressing on.  Whatever your situation may be today, I encourage you to stand firm and press on.  Call upon the Lord and admit your pain and ask for His strength.  When you are at your weakest is when He is at His strongest.  (2 Corinthians 12:9)

P.S. - Garrett went on to have 3 carries for 47 yards and 2 TD’s in the game.