This message came from Mary Ellen Reitmeyer to the Football Parents and Coaches. It's certainly worth posting as a summary of the LCHS Football season.
PUT ME IN COACH – I’M READY TO PLAY
ISAIAH 6:8
In my family, it goes something like this… 1st God, 2nd Family & Friends & 3rd Football. Some may not understand, but those are usually the people that didn’t grow up rooting for the home team or watching their son hit the field while we sit on the 50 yard line. I got to do both. For the past nine years we have spent every weekend of every fall, watching Doozer and his teammates play football. Before each game, I’d bless my son and remind him to, "Be safe, have fun and kick their butts – in that order!" Then I’d give him a hug – the kind you give when you won’t see someone you love for awhile. Every play, every game, every opponent, mattered – the goal was victory. The happiest day was the first day of pre-season and the saddest was the last day of the football season. And most of all, you pray that the lessons learned on the field and in all the hours of preparation for Friday night will someday transfer to life.
The team that I will always hold closest to my heart is the LCHS Varsity 2006 Football Team. They are a family, a brotherhood built on shared purpose, goals and commitment. They are a wonderful group of young men who know that the good of the whole is more important than the glory of the one. They seemed destined to live out their dream of state play-offs and even a championship. Their synergy was palatable as you watched them conquer week after week. They had few injuries this season and most were rehabbed quickly.
Then came November 15, 2006 and this is when the family drew together to shore each other up and draw from each others strengths. Not only was their quarterback, Nick Downey, an amazing athlete and formidable quarterback, he was the one of the team leaders. Now, because of an injury, he was unable to play, probably for the rest of the season. The team was devastated. Chris Peyton, their very talented, skilled and patient back-up quarterback stepped up to the challenge, with the support of his team family.
This is where those lessons learned on the field and in the locker room transfer to life. My son said to me, with tears in his eyes, "Mom, no one deserves this, but most especially Nick. He’s worked hard and has overcome a lot and he has given us so much. If only it could’ve been me instead of Nick." I had to leave the room to choke down the tears as I prayed, "No greater love has a man than to lay one’s life down for a friend." This was the body of Christ. When one member of the body is in pain, the entire body suffers with him.
They buoyed each other and crushed their opponent that Friday night. They won together. They celebrated together. This body of Christ had each other’s back, compensated for each other’s weaknesses and accentuated each other’s strengths. There was resurrection.
The following Friday, the LCHS 2006 Football Team lost the District 3 Championship in a last minute Hail Mary Pass for the opponents winning touchdown. The team was devastated, but together they will mourn and together they will lift each other up as they raise their heads high and remember what they accomplished this past season. I am so proud of each and every one of them – we all are. They have given their parents an amazing gift this season – the gift of seeing our sons become men before our eyes. We love them so.
Boys,
You showed us a living example of the Body of Christ. "For as with the human body which is a unity although it has many parts – all the parts of the body, though many, still making up one single body-so it is with Christ. … If one part is hurt, all the parts share its pain. And if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy." 1Corinthians 12:12,26
Now, this is where it applies to Life – the Life that will never end. This is the stuff that really matters. These are the lessons that can forge you into Godly men with integrity. These skills that you learned are life lessons that, if you choose, can help you to grow in your faith as well as your faithfulness. Such is the Body of Christ. Together you experienced pain. May you all be honored and share in that joy. You have reached your goal – you truly are victorious. In life, as in football, it’s important to be prepared, to ready yourself by training and discipline. "Put me in coach, I’m ready to play," or "I said, here I am, send me." Isaiah 6:8 Christ has amazing things planned for you. Ask Him to be your coach and He’ll put you in the game. He wants you on His team. He has all the plays and, in case you didn’t read the end of the book, He’s always victorious.
May the Lord bless you & keep you. May the Lord shine His face upon you. May the Lord be gracious unto you & fill you with His everlasting peace.
Mary Ellen Reitmeyer
Doozer’s Mom
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