Football With the King

'And Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king’s table; he was lame in both feet.'  2 Samuel 9:13 

"Mommy, I want to play football!"  said my three year old son.  "Sure you can buddy, but you've got to work on your running game,"  said his mommy in return.  I can see you shaking your head and asking what is so unusual about that?  Don't all three year old boys want to play football?  Especially those little boys whose daddy's watch every football game known to man.  You know the one's who TIVO College Football Classics from the 1980's so they can watch it in the off season?  That may be normal for most boys, but not this one.

What I didn't mention is this child is special.  This child has Cerebral Palsy.  We consider it a good day when he only falls three time while walking around the house.  But run?  You've gotta be kidding me!  What kind of mother would I be if I let my son think that he will be able to play football?  On the other hand, what kind of mother would I be if I didn't let him reach for his dreams?  Good Mama or bad Mama?  I DON'T KNOW!
Mephibosheth was cripple in both feet, just like my son.  But this did not deter King David from inviting him into his home.  No, he was welcomed into the palace and even dined at the king's table as one of the family.  He was given land and men were appointed to run it for him.  His disability didn't change the fact that he was valued in the king's eyes.

I used to get my defenses up when I would see a child with disabilites playing sports with 'normal' kids.  Now that I am a Mama of a child with disabilities I can see why she let her son play football.  She wanted him to have his dream.  She didn't want to be the one to hold him back.  Sooner or later we have to let go of our little ones and entrust them to the One who gave them to us in the first place.  After all, they were never truly ours to begin with.  For all we know they may one day be invited to play football in the yard of the King...