Leave it All on the Field

Can you feel it? Can you feel that crispness in the air that feels like Fall? You know what this means? YEP...football!!!!  GOOOOO TEAM! But, now it is a little different... this year I don't have the stench of sweaty football gear reeking from the back of our suburban. This year, my Friday nights will not be spent juggling dinner on the road so we can get to the game before kick-off. This year I won't have to keep hand warmers in my purse and stadium seats in the trunk. This year my "running back" is playing "offense" for the Lord's team!

It's an awesome team! They have a super great training program down at the CCM (MTC) in Mexico! And when it was game time... my boy was shipped back up to Arcadia California, where he met his coach, the Mission President!

We have equipped him with safety gear... scriptures, Preach My Gospel and other good literature (in English AND Spanish!) along with good shoes, a decent bike and several suits, ties, and white shirts! He was as prepared as he could be... but are you ever completely prepared for a mission?

And now, once again, I am his biggest fan...his loudest cheerleader...the Mom in the stands praying for his safety and success!!! I have to tell you that I cheer loud...really loud! In fact, one time on a particularly awesome play, I got especially boisterous... (my poor husband) I was so excited...after I apologized to the folks sitting in front of us... they looked at me and then their hands flew up in quick gestures to each other. I realized they were deaf...and this was a really good place for me to sit from then on  ;)

My son's "Half Time" is coming up!!! In high school, at half time, my son would disappear into the locker room with the rest of the team for a half time pep talk from the coach... now, halfway through his mission, I hope he will be getting a "pep talk" from his Mission President! I hope he has "team mates" surrounding him encouraging him and I hope that he can be that team mate that says "C'mon, we've got this!!!"

The last thing our Stake President said to my son after he set him apart as a Missionary, was "Leave it all on the field." This means: don't hold back, put it all on the line. At the end of the game you want to know that you gave it your all!!!"

Which Jersey will you wear? Before their missions, these kids were athletes... now they are serving on the Lord's Team!!! GOOOOOOooooooo TEAM!!!

LEAVE IT ALL ON THE FIELD

(VIDEO)

****THE GOSPEL IS TRUE****

~Heidi Chapman