Tommy

Tommy is the only one of the kids of whom my favorite memory is really recent. Katherine wrote about it in her blog much better than I can here but here we go.

I had had a really good and promising day–good meetings, lots of good signs of things to come. Even to the point where I called Karen on my way home and while I was telling her about my day, she said, “Oh, Jack just scored a goal.” I told her that capped an incredble day.

I picked up Tommy and took him over to the school to play his football game. I told him about my game and then I told him about Jack’s goal as well. He said, “Well, the day is not over. Now we will really cap it off with a great game from Tommy.” He had been concerned about playing time–others had gotten more time than him and he felt ignored. But I suggested he keep up his hopes and good things will happen.

The game started. He didn’t start–a couple of other guys got the ball first. Then on the third play he went in. He got the ball on the next two plays–a 10 yard gain of left tackle. Then they ran he very same play and he broke it for a 21 yard touchdown run. His friends came and sat near me–and they were going wild. Over the next few minutes, the kids came and then the cousins. They were bummed when they heard that Tommy had a long touchdown run. But there was more where that came. He scored again a few minutes later and then, with the game on the line he almost single handedly ran the clockout on a series of 5 and 10 yard runs.

After the game, we saw him come off the field–looking happier than he has ever looked. “How is that to cap off a great day, Dad.” he said to me. Then he said, “All they had to do was give me a chance.” All the cheerleaders had been going nuts for him when he was running, and his cousins were dancing on the bleachers. During one series a whole section of family and friends were chanting his name. I have never seen him so happy.

I know the Lord reached out to this great boy to give him this incredible blessing. It will be interesting to see what he does with it. I have no doubt that it will be wonderful.