Football with the King

By: Allison Morrison - Christian Devotions

So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem , for he ate at the king's table regularly. Now 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 gotta work on your running game."

I can see you shaking you head and asking, "What is so unusual about that?" Don't all three-year-olds want to play football? Especially those boys who have a Daddy that watches every single football game known to man. You know, the Daddys that Tivo College Football Classic replays from the 1980s? That may be normal for other boys, but not this one.

What I didn't mention was this child is special. He has Cerebral Palsy. We consider it a good day when he only falls three times. But run? You've got to be kidding me. What kind of mother would I be to let my son think he will be able to play football? On the other hand, what kind of mother am I if I don't let him reach for his dreams? Good mama or bad mama? I don't know.

Mephibosheth was crippled in both feet, just like my son. Still, that didn't t deter King David from inviting him into his home. He was welcomed into the palace and even sat at the table with the king. Mephibosheth was given land with men appointed to work the land for him. His disability didn't change the fact that he was valued in the King's eyes.

I used to raise my defenses when I saw a child with a disability playing sports with "normal" kids. Now that I am the parent of a child with a disability, I can see why that mama 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. They never were ours to begin with. For all we know they may be invited to play football in the backyard of the King.

God commands us to love them all. Practice His commands.