Saturday was Thomas' last game of Merced Youth Soccer. It seems crazy to think that he has been playing for 9 years. When I look back at pictures like this one I get sad because the time seems to have gone by so quickly and I feel like I haven't had enough of him yet. Soccer has become his all time favorite sport and because of him I have become a total fan of soccer and of course of the English Premier League. I think he really took off in about 5th grade when he tried out for his first competitive team which has its' season following the city league season. He has played on a school, a city and a competitive team now for 4 years. In August he begins his school and city games and plays until the middle of November. Then all through the winter he practices at night under the lights, in the rain, fog and mist and loves it. In January he begins the competive season with two games every Saturday somewhere in the Central Valley and plays through until the middle of March.
He has gained so much confidence and of course speed, muscle and skills too. We've been really lucky to have great coaches and teammates. I think that because of his smile and friendly nature, he has friends wherever he goes. Even when his school team played the cross town rivals Thomas was talking and joking with the opposing players. He has played with most of them on a team somewhere in his career. I love that he is nice, even to the boys who aren't as skilled in soccer, he always tries to help them and cheer them on. I love that he is respectful of the parents and always says hello to them. He has even fooled some of them with his English accent - really you thought we were from England? I love that he jokes with but also listens to his coaches and works hard on the pitch.
As with most sporting events, the championship game for each of these leagues always falls on a Sunday. The first year that Thomas played competitive league and his team went to the finals, he had never faced this dilemma before and we told him that our family didn't participate in sports on Sunday. The second year, when the final game came around again, Thomas was broken-hearted. By now he had fallen in love with soccer, he had worked so hard and he loved his team. It was really hard for him to face the coach and teammates and tell them he wouldn't be playing on Sunday. The next morning as we got ready for church Thomas was in tears. But he dressed and came with us. In the parking lot he said, "Mom, I just can't go in yet." So I let him stay in the car until he could come in on his own. I was playing prelude and he walked up to me crying which of course made me cry. I had him sit on a little stair next to the organ where he couldn't be seen by the congregation. Soon enough though, the First Counselor in the Bishopric walked over and gave Thomas a big hug. He was an athlete and had also experienced the Sabbath heartache. He started crying....so then all three of us were crying. Word trickled through the congregation and I saw many people put their arm around Thomas that day. A Primary leader even showed up with cookies and a note after church.
The next spring in General Conference Elder Wilson gave a talk and told about his daughter who was also a soccer player with championship games on Sunday. He said how they had allowed their daughter to make her own choice and how she had played in the game but decided it made her feel terrible and she knew she would never play on Sunday again. I felt a little guilty that up until this point we had told Thomas that he couldn't play on Sunday. But I still feel that if we had given him the choice that year, he would have played in the game and loved it. I think we would now be battling playing on Sunday for every championship game. Now, a few years later and after many Sunday championships, Thomas makes his own decision and tells the coach on his own. It doesn't mean it is easy though, Saturday after the game, he just wanted to leave and not hang around listening to the excitement build for the Sunday final.
This fall Matt received the following note from a former member of our ward. Before moving from Merced she served as our YW President. In her early 20's she had been a cheerleader for the San Francisco 49ers. She even has a Super Bowl ring, how cool is that. Here is what she wrote:
Hey Bishop this weekend was my 49er Gold Rush reunion. To celebrate I was invited to dance during the half time show today since this is our last season at candlestick park. Of course I did not do it because it was on the sabbath and yes I have been crying all week about it because that would have been so much fun to be on that field again with my friends and that awesome energy plus it would of meant free game tickets for Mike.LOL I am telling you this random story because I want you to tell Tommy that I have been thinking about him all weekend and how much strength it took him to make the decision not to play in that soccer championship game last year. His strength to follow The Lord and his commandments have given me strength this weekend. He was such a great example to me. I know how hard of a choice that must have been for him and how hard that day must have been to endure. Give him a great big hug for me and tell him how much his love for The Lord has helped me today. I kept telling myself if Tommy could do it so can I. It is about honoring, loving and obeying The Lord always. Those 5 min. Of fame are so worldly compared to the blessings The Lord has for us. Tommy has been my hero today.
