As parents we are always looking for those moments that we'll remember forever. You remember the birth of your child, their first words and when they took their first step. Well when Jonah was born I realized that some moments that I had dreamed of for my son may never come. He may never leave home, may not get married, we pretty much were guaranteed that he would not be providing us with grandkids and more than likely he would never be a star athlete. OK, we've tried baseball for special needs kids and he did not enjoy it, sure he like hitting the ball but after that there was a lot of standing around. Next came soccer, we had him playing in a developmental league and needless to say his biggest joy was kicking the ball into the woods. I have just about given up on Jonah and sports because when Jonah plays, Daddy has to help coach him and when Jonah's not happy to be doing something then it's not fun for me either.
I tell you this because today was one of those moments that you dream of. I coach 2 R.A. (Royal Ambassador (boys missions organization thru the church)) basketball teams and have been asked when was I gonna let Jonah play. The standard answer has been next year (that would give me time to enlist more help) because you need one coach to focus on Jonah and one coach to take care of the other 4 boys on the basketball court. This all sounds great and very thought out until today. After my older boys finished playing, the younger team was getting ready to warm up and I hear Jonah saying he wants a shirt (basketball jersey). Well Rae (my wife) ended up having to work today so if letting Jonah wear a basketball jersey will make him happy and help him mind what the heck. I picked up a jersey (#12), put it on him and told him to go over to our fans and let them see his "shirt". Off he went to show off, boy was he happy. Next thing I know he comes back to the center of the basketball court and says "I wanna play". Hmm, I have 7 boys there, dressed and ready to play basketball and now Jonah is pretty much saying that he's gonna play since he had a jersey on. I walked over to the other coach and told him that we had a problem; he looked at me and said "What's that". I pointed to Jonah and next thing I hear was "Let him play". All of this is sounding great until you realize that Jonah has never played basketball, he doesn't like to listen very well and really does not like to run alot. OK, he can play. I pick 5 boys to start the game , they go out onto the floor and there goes Jonah wanting to plan NOW. I try and explain that he has to wait and he says "NO, PLAY NOW." All I can do is ask, so we walk out to the center of the court and I ask my team if anyone was willing to let Jonah start in their place. Needless to say, one of the boys said that Jonah could have his spot. Jonah ended up playing the first, third and 3 minutes of the fourth quarter. He actually ran up and down the court chasing the ball.
I have to say, the results of the game (we lost by 4) was not what was important that day; the fact that my other boys accepted Jonah playing with them and one of them giving up his spot so that Jonah could start shows that we are teaching them right. No, it's not always about winning or losing, that it's about representing God,our church and our families.
More to come, gotta see if Jonah actually goes to practice on Thursday night...
Dan
