Chasing dreams is never a mistake...

We have been on quite a journey since my last post. Football got tougher, school started for my 6th grader and my 2nd grader, I went into my normal first week of school blues (I'm am just sappy that way), and then football came to an end. Not that the season is over, Josh just had all he could handle. After five weeks of conditioning camp, workouts, soreness and horrible bruises he just decided he didn't have what it took to play the game. Monday night after practice Joshua went up to all the coaches, shook all of their hands with tears in his eyes, thanked them all for investing so much into him and told them that he was done. The coaches hugged Josh and told him that just because he was not going to be playing on the field, that didn't mean he couldn't be part of the team. They still wanted him to come to all the games and stand on the sidelines to support them... wearing his jersey, with his name and number. He said he would do it with pride! When we got home, Josh knew that he had done the right thing, but it didn't hurt any less. After a long hot shower, he and I had an opportunity to talk it through. He said, "Mom, I'm sorry I couldn't do it. I know it was a lot of money and you spent so much of your time helping me." I explained to him that he had nothing to be sorry for, at all. I told him that we were so CRAZY proud of the effort and maturity he had shown through this whole experience. He has grown so much in his character, self confidence, and perseverance it's unbelievable. The main thing I told him was that he should never apologize for chasing his dreams. He truly had a passion to play football. He wanted to do it so bad. Just because it didn't turn out like he expected, doesn't mean he made a mistake. I used the example of my own life... When I graduated high school my dad had high hopes of my going to college, because my desire was always to be an English/Literature Teacher. I got married right away and God began changing my heart. Soon, I knew college was not where I belonged. God had called me to be a stay at home mom for my Joshua. Not at all what I had planned, and boy was my dad disappointed (kind of an understatement). Talk to him now, and my dad will tell you it was the best "dream" I had ever chased. Never be afraid to chase your dreams, they may not be the landing point that you expect, but rather a catapult toward God's Destiny for your life. Your "dreams", in God's hands, hold the tools to equip your future walk in His perfect will. The next day Joshua's coach invited him to still participate in the pep rally and jersey ceremony. The coach told him he had earned it. Josh went, he ran when they called his name, he did the victory chant with the team and Saturday he will be on the sidelines with all his new friends... cheering them to victory, louder than anyone!