SHEPHERD WINS!

The season ends with joy. The record stands with 11 wins and 0 losses. It was a very exciting evening for the championship game. Shepherd vs Fremont and both teams were undefeated. This was the rival game and there were friends on both teams, they go to church together but to separate schools.

This was more than just a football game, it was for the city win. It was for pride of school and bragging rights. Yet it was a bittersweet win. The feeling of wanting both sides to be successful and knowing all the hard work was put forth from both sides. I think moms from both sides were praying and wishing for their boys to win. The teams both wanted to win and they both deserved to win, but one team lost.

This is where the victory did not feel so sweet to me. As I walked to my car and I was observing people around me, my cell phone buzzed and I was greeted with a text message from a mom on the other team congratulating Milan. She had also texted at the beginning as we both shared a united prayer for both of our teams safety. She was very gracious and it touched me. I felt her loss, the effort of working hard but feeling the pang of disappointment for her son was mixed with the joy for my son.

As I am very competitive (which can be my downfall in many instances), I know that we, as parents, feel the joy for our children as well as the sadness. It is a parent trait, to experience the emotions as they are feeling them, but to rise above that emotion and still be there for them. This was one of those moments. The times when words are few and our hearts are full.

I am very proud of Milan this season. Not because of his success in winning, but in his perseverance through something he had never done before. Something that required physical endurance when his body was weak, and emotional endurance when the outcome was not always fun. There are many things he gained this season, outside of an awesome physical buffness, the ability to push through and the reward of hard teamwork.