Lessons from the Field

A good word to describe the theme of the past ten months would be soccer.  While there is much more to life than sports, there is also often much more to sports than just playing a game.  I have learned so much watching three of my children play soccer this past year.  In so many ways soccer was so much more than we bargained for.  When we found out that our oldest and newest son was interested in soccer we thought, "Sure thing.  That's easy.  There's a new soccer park just down the street.  Sign him up.  Community soccer here we come."  What we got was something akin to soccer fever, and along with it an amazing opportunity to watch God grow and stretch our children through the avenue of sports.  We also got heaps of blessings as we shared our lives with the teams and their families.  We had no idea what the world of soccer was like, and contrary to the negative stereotypes that come from Hollywood and the news, it has been a great experience for us this year.

A year ago we never dreamed that our family would eat, sleep, and dream soccer, or that we would average 10-15 soccer events (games, practices, refereeing jobs) per week.  Even as I write it, it just seems absurd, but God has provided an amazing peace in the midst of this crazy life.  We have still been able to continue to eat supper together as a family every evening.  Bedtime still happens for the younger crew, almost regularly.  The children are still one another's biggest fans on and off the field.  We have made it to *almost* every game (except the one when I was sent to the ER by ambulance), including games on the opposite side of the country and games several states away, games where it was freezing and games when it was scorching.  And in between the soccer events there has been a sweet and wonderful peace during our very quiet days at home.  Well, our home is not one bit quiet during the days, but our schedule is.  Homeschooling has allowed us to keep a relaxed but structured pace at home together during the days, which has been so helpful when we are on the go in the afternoons/evenings.

I would like to share with you a few things that I have learned from my experiences as a first time soccer mom this year.   But first, let me introduce the players:

Noah, #3, 

playing (mostly) forward (but dreaming of being a goal keeper someday) 

for the North Metro U6 Lasers (recreational team):

Maria, #19, 

playing forward 

for the North Metro U14 C2 Blazers:

Hugo, #11, 

playing forward 

for Minnesota Thunder Academy U16 Blue Premier:

Hugo (in the yellow uniform), USSF Soccer Referee

It is a joy to watch these three play soccer on the field, at the park, in the street, in the front yard, in the living room, and sometimes at the dining room table.   It is also a joy to bring them to practice, cheer them on, track down missing socks and shin guards,  clean shredded rubber from the turf off the kitchen floor after it falls out of cleats, cheer for their favorite professional players, and watch ridiculous amounts of international soccer online with them.   These three have taught me so much and I am humbled and thankful to be able to share it.

1.  As a mom, I needed to learn how to delight in my children as God delights in His children.  I needed (and wanted) to learn to be my kids' biggest fan.  So many things in this world vie for their attention and make false promises of love and commitment.  Soccer has provided an opportunity for me to show my children love and for me to learn how to be their biggest fan.  God has shown me again and again in His Word how He delights in us.  

Zephaniah 3:17 

The Lord your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.

2.  As a mom, I needed to learn how NOT to be a fair-weather fan.  According to my oldest son, Chelsea Football Club of the UK is the best team, regardless of their record, and Didier Drogba is the best player even if he leaves Chelsea to play for Shanghai, China.  There's no argument.  I needed to learn how to be my kids biggest fan regardless of their personal records in life, in school, in relationships with one another, and even in relationship with me.  No argument.  God is good to love me and want the best for me, even in my rebellion, my immaturity, my sin, my stubbornness, my pride. 

Psalm 103:2-5 

Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

3.  As a mom, I needed to learn that, win-or-lose, as a family we are a team.  We celebrate our triumphs together and hold onto one another in our moments of defeat, learning to build one another up.

Ephesians 4:29 

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Thank you to my soccer stars for inviting me into their world, and to their teams and their families who share this journey with us.  It has been a joy to learn together with you this year!