We’re still playing football here in Minnesota. In fact, today is our Section Finals. Three more games after this, and we win the state championship. (Just sayin’!)
But I’m not looking ahead to that. I’m looking behind, to see what we accomplished.
My middle son started playing football in 5th grade – way behind other kids in other schools because we simply didn’t have a football program at that time. And, we’d lived in Russia – no football there! And no tackling in 5th grade, either. All flag.
I remember the first game I saw him run for a touchdown. I may have run down the sidelines with him. I thought – yes, this will be fun.
The day he joined the tackle team, in 7th grade, and got to tackle was to his own admission, the greatest day of his life. Pete was born to play football. He played a few varsity games in 8th grade, and started in 9th grade. In his off season, he plays basketball and runs track – all so he can stay in shape for football. He holds two weight lifting records at the school gym. He made all conference running back last year.
And last week he broke the state record for touchdowns scored in a game (8).
But I have to say, through all his victories, my proudest moment of him came in last week’s game, after he was taken out of the game.
See, he plays with his younger brother, Noah. It’s not easy to be Noah – who is a rising star in his own right. But Noah is always dodging his big brother’s shadow. It’s not easy, because Pete casts it both ways- he plays Running Back on offense and Outside Linebacker on Defense. Noah plays Defensive End, so if you understand football positions, you know Pete lines up right behind his brother. No shadow dodging there.
Pete wants Noah to be his best, and an outside might accuse Pete of hounding Noah. Many times, after practice coaching occurs in our living room. There’s not a lot of mercy for Noah.
Until last week.
Two plays after Pete scored his final touchdown, Noah got hit in the knee, hyper-extended it and had to be carried off the field.
They won the game – their first playoff game. And as we met the boys after the game, I saw this:
Camaraderie. Pete carrying his brother off the field. A pride in his eyes. This is one of my favorite brother pictures.
One of my greatest hopes is that my children love each other, that they get along, encourage, support and…well, occasionally carry each other.
Touchdown.
I’m proud of Pete. Not because he scores touchdowns, but because he is becoming a man built for others.
Who has “carried” you in your life? A sibling? A friend? Share it here!