The end of the soccer season was a little rough on Max.
His playing time was getting less. His team was practicing on Monday nights. It was hard on our family to fit any sort of family night in- it seemed to be an after thought each week, a checklist item.
I knew in my heart we needed Monday nights. I told Max how I felt and he agreed to skip Monday night practices. I talked to his coaches, who were kind, but thought that Monday nights were the best time for the team to meet. I knew we would be sacrificing Max's spot on this team, but decided to follow my feelings and after talking to Dave, we reserved Monday nights and decided to step up our FHE efforts. Most nights are busy, but I decided maybe we can't eat every night together, but we could eat together on Monday. I started inviting the kids to help me cook, set the table, and clean up. We had an etiquette lesson each week... usually something dumb like escalator etiquette or chopstick manners. We started studying the life of Christ together in a simple way. Each person would share a favorite story of Christ. I'm sure this wasn't what Elder Nelson meant when he made promises to the youth if they studied the life of Christ, but it was my effort to follow his council.
he said, “If you proceed to learn all you can about Jesus Christ, I promise you that your love for Him and for God’s laws will grow beyond what you currently imagine. I promise you also that your ability to turn away from sin will increase. Your desire to keep the commandments will soar. You will find yourself better able to walk away from the entertainment and entanglements of those who mock the followers of Jesus Christ. I can recommend this assignment to you because I recently completed it myself and I know it has blessed my life.”
Our family nights were fun, and for the most part, we enjoyed being together.
Max's playing time became very minimal. I decided if we were putting soccer on the alter, so be it.
That's why I loved this moment in his game when I snapped this picture. The sun was shining down on him, even though this game was disappointing.
I tell my kids all the time that if they keep the commandments they will prosper- how many times does it say that in the Book of Mormon? I should really count.
Recently we had try-outs for the next soccer season and Max didn't make the A team that he had been on. They cut him and brought over a couple players from Park City. He was disappointed to be placed on the B team. But then we met his coach and he started the season.
It is such a better fit for Max!
His coaches are so kind and depend on Max to strengthen the team.
They coach in a very positive way which Max responds to really well.
They played awesome in their first tournament and Max had so much fun!
It was a testimony to me that Heavenly Father does keep his promises. I talked to Max about prospering, and sometimes, it looks different than we expect. Sometimes the B team really is prospering in a different sort of way. He agreed, AND his team doesn't practice on Monday nights.
Can I get a woot woot???
WOOT WOOT!!!
