Friday Night Lights

For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.  Isaiah 41:13

As football season is upon us…I have fond memories of watching my oldest son, Zach, play football!  He started playing JFL when he was in fifth grade and continued playing his favorite sport until he graduated from high school.

It seemed as though everyone in our small community attended the games each week! Excitement filled the air as you cheered your team on under the Friday Night Lights!

Friends stood along the sidelines…chatting…watching the game…grabbing a hotdog or a bag of popcorn…and just enjoying the small town atmosphere!

It was something we looked forward to each week with much excitement!

Zach’s sophomore year started off as usual!  He was playing both JV and Varsity football, which meant he played two games each week and practiced every other night of the week!

It was the week of homecoming and I was sitting in the bleachers at Clinton, watching Zach and his team play a JV game.  They had just stepped back on the field after halftime, when moments later…the whistle blew and a player was down.

As a mother of a football player, my eyes quickly roamed the field, looking for my son. 

I assure you…any mother of a football player will tell you that you can pick your son out on the field in seconds.  Even though all the players are wearing helmets and dressed identically…you just know your son!

As fear began to rise up inside me…I slowly rose from the bleachers.  I knew it was my son lying unusually still on the field! 

As I was making my way down the bleachers, the Head Coach was running over…motioning for me to join him on the field!

I’m sure I was a sight…but I choose to climb over the fence and run to the field before the coach could even tell me that he would meet me at the gate.  He had no choice but to follow me on the field.

Zach’s team was all around him when I knelt down beside him.  He was obviously in a lot of pain, and his ankle appeared twisted and distorted as my son lay on the ground.

I did the only thing I knew to do…I prayed.  His team stood around us as we lifted up my son in prayer…asking God to touch him! 

The next few hours were a blur.  The ambulance arrived and rushed Zach to the Clinton hospital.  After much waiting, we were told that Zach needed to be taken to Decatur Memorial Hospital! 

And throughout all of this, they were trying to ease his pain.

Tears came to my eyes as I watched my son lying in pain, wishing that I could take his suffering upon myself…I couldn’t stand to see him hurting.

My husband met us at the hospital as soon as he got home from work, and a dear friend brought Zach’s sister and brother to the hospital, and then took them home and stayed with them. 

We met with an orthopedic surgeon when we arrived at DMH.  He told us that he was going to try to set Zach’s ankle, but the break was in his growth plate and if he wasn’t able to set it, he would have to perform surgery in the morning.

As Zach was wheeled away, the waiting was unbearable…and I had to pray against the fear that would rise up inside of me.  I didn’t want me son to have to go through surgery, yet at the same time, I wanted his ankle to heal correctly.

Finally, we were able to see Zach!  He was in a cast from his hip to his toes!  The doctor had been able to set the broken bone and no surgery was required, but they would be keeping him in the hospital through the night.

Once settled in his room, my husband left the hospital to go home and take care of Zach’s younger sister and brother, allowing me to stay with Zach in the hospital that night.

As I sat next to his bed while he was resting, my mind began to wander.  I wasn’t sure how much pain he would be in the next morning…how long it would take his ankle to heal…and I even wondered if his ankle would be as strong or as good as new, so again, fear began to consume me.

I prayed throughout the night…pouring my heart out to God…confessing my fears…and I was reminded of God’s word…For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear: I will help you…Isaiah 41:13.

God was with me as I sat in that hospital room that night...holding my right hand as I cried out to him.  He was with my son, Zach…comforting him and helping him sleep through the night.

God has been with me numerous times since that long night.  And each time that fear begins to rise up inside me, I am reminded of his promise…”Do not fear; I will help you”!!

Zach had to remain on the sidelines for the remainder of football season that year, and it was little difficult dancing at his homecoming dance a few days after being released from the hospital…. but he still made it to the rest of the homecoming activities that week!

However, I am happy to share that after physical therapy, he was ready to play basketball by the time basketball season began. 

And he was back on the football field his junior and senior year…playing as though he had never been injured! 

My oldest son, Zach

And thought my heart would leap when he was tackled, I loved watching my oldest son playing the sport he loved so much…underneath the Friday night lights.

Dear Heavenly Father…thank you for always being with us!  Thank you that when fear begins to creep into our lives, we can be reminded that you are there…taking hold of our right hand…encouraging us not to fear because you are there to help us!  Thank you for loving us so much!