Basketball as Holy Ground

Back in October I wrote a post on a day in my life when football was sacred. Today it's about basketball. 

For the past three months basketball has been sacred ground for me. And true confession (from an overly enthusiastic sports fanatic...yes, I listen to sports talk radio in the car and watched ESPN during those middle of the night feedings 17 years ago), I really haven't ever been a fan of basketball. 

But that all changed on December 10 at Skyview Academy, in their gym, when the Jim Elliot Warriors took to the court and number 21 was among them. 

There is more to this story than I can ever publicly share or adequately write. But I'm a big believer in commemorating certain events with massebah, "standing stones." This is one.

Watching number 21 pick up that ball in November for the first time to earlier this month when he stole the ball and dribbled/drove down the court with the other team on his heels. I loved every moment and was the crazy mom screaming from the bleachers. I earned that from the moment I gave birth to this 1 lb.15 ounce wonder to that magical day. Pure grace.

He's overcome more than probably any of those kids on the team. He's fierce and determined and committed and that's how he got to this day. He chose not to give up. Not at 1 or 5 or 10 or 17.

He is a true Warrior.