Count It All Joy

Our State Finals for Marching Band were this weekend and the event was huge, to say the least. The venue was Papa John's Stadium in Louisville, KY and it is an honor to make it to finals. This year being the first year for Big Daddy and I to have BOTH children in the same scholastic activity, is monumental. We have spent the past several years running between band events to track events to concerts and back to dance competitions. Phew! Having them both in the same thing at the same time with the same schedule? Fabulous for them AND us. There were many events, especially near the holiday breaks, where one of us would have to attend alone while missing Child A's performance so that we could see Child B's...then we would switch off and miss the other child's performance next go 'round as we rotated. Sure, having one parent in attendance is nice and all, but as a kid, you want them both there, every performance, every time. Now, we are able to provide that for our kids and that is an amazing comfort to all of us. In other words, a blessing.

We arrived at the stadium around 2pm. We played at 3:oo, so we were able to watch a few bands before us and get in the spirit of things. Our band is the largest on the field in the state with over 200 students. It is a wonderful spectacle to watch, especially knowing how much effort, hard work, and dedication that is poured into this event beginning in July. July is a long way from November, let me tell you. But, here we were and the weather was gorgeous. If I had written a request to God for the perfect weather, it would have been the exact same as what we had yesterday. Thanks, God. Another blessing.

The semi-finals ended and we placed high enough to return for finals. Actually, we came in first place according to the internet boards. Our group of friends included Babs, Ms. B, Lucy, and a host of other friends and husbands to keep Big Daddy entertained while our kids weren't on the field. LOL We had an awesome day and then went to The Spaghetti Factory. Yummmmmm. I had the spinach & artichoke dip with shrimp and bruschetta while Big Daddy dined on crab ravioli and something else I can't recall. Regardless of what Big Daddy ate, he gave me his ice cream and that's all that really mattered. Yet another blessing for I believe ice cream is heaven sent.

While sharing this meal with our friends and thoroughly enjoying each other's company, I took a moment to give thanks to the One who made the moment possible. I try to do that more now...you know, give thanks. I don't want to be ungrateful or uncaring and I do want God to know that I appreciate His provision, because I truly do. On June 25th of this year, I was not as inclined to make a point of giving thanks. On June 25th, I didn't have cancer, however, on June 26th, I did and the blessings have been piling one on top of the other. Wow. Thank You, God, for the blessing of cancer.

We all arrived back at the stadium, found our seats and enjoyed the final shows from each band. May I just say that I am, was, and shall continue to forever be, exceptionally proud of every child participating from every school. These kids work h-a-r-d...ALL of them and they are all champions because if marching band was easy, they would call it football. (I read that somewhere...I am not that clever.) The line was not long at Ehrler's Ice Cream, so Babs' hubby bought me an ice cream cone. Now, I am sure you are thinking to yourself... "but she just had ice cream at The Spaghetti Factory five minutes ago..." First of all, it was not five minutes ago and secondly, they only give you enough to make you want more. So, with ice cream cone in hand, we watched some incredibly talented kids, and enjoyed what we were part of and the memories we were making. You know, memories are the blessings that keep us moving forward to make new ones...

We won! We came in 1st place which meant Number Sweet Sixteen for State wins. We, the parents, families, and friends, waited for the Director to release the students. The kids remain in formation until after all other competitors have exited the field. Next thing you know we are seconds away from actually touching the Grand Champions, the Governor's Cup recipients, the biggest, baddest, bestest band in all the land right there on the Louisville Cardinals Stadium turf! And then, the very parents, families, and friends stormed these kids. There were hugs, kisses, camera clicks, and tears. Kids showing their emotions for what had just happened...the honor just bestowed upon them...the memories of a lifetime being made...and we were there. I cannot recall a time in the past twenty years when Big Daddy was more cognizant of picture taking. He had our camera held up for "aerial views"...he had us posing...he had us hugging...he made sure costumes were captured and no heads were cut off...Big Daddy was all about taking a ton of pictures. Babs and her hubby hung out in the stands so that, as a family, we could share the moment. What I wanted her to know was that they are our family and we wanted them on the field with us to share in our moment...a moment for all of us, this family...our family. Later, I looked at the pictures and realized Big Daddy had even taken a picture of Babs in the stands watching us...followed by a picture of me looking into the stands for Babs...the epitome of friendship and the blessings that accompany it.

We listened to the "Victory Speech" from the Director to the kids, parents, volunteers, and everyone else who made the show possible and successful. He gave the final scores and then released the kids to go get pizza. It was a tremendous thing for both of our children to experience and an event they will never forget...and will hopefully repeat the next three years at which point, they will both have graduated from high school and will have a treasure trove of "wins" under their belts. Will our school win the next three years in a row? To never have to experience defeat or coming in any place less than first? As a parent, wouldn't THAT be a blessing to not have to see your child work so, very, very hard for something and still not attain the win?

Sure. We want our children to succeed at everything they attempt (except the stupid stuff like making the "Underwater Basket Weaving Team" or "Let's See How Many Years You Can Fail Every Class Before They Simply Kick You Out Team"). As parents and adults, we have certainly encountered defeat and disappointment. So much so that we stopped keeping "official" score at tee-ball games so that everyone wins. As managers, we offer the "Positive Sandwich" where we slide some positive points on top, throw in the "you need to work on this" meat, and then top it off with something else positive....you know, so you don't hurt anyone's feelings, find yourself at the receiving end of a libel subpoena, or make anyone upset for asking them to do their job. As politicians, we may have issues but at least we did not "do what he did" (John Edwards, Marion Berry, Bill Clinton). Something, somewhere happened and we stopped holding each other accountable...learning the lessons that accompany defeat, despair, and disappointment. Who would ever think those things to be a blessing?

Who? Well, someone who has experienced them and become a better person for the lessons learned...like me. God has generously used disappointment, rejection, failure, and a not-so-clean-anymore bill of health to teach me humility, compassion, and patience. These are the blessings of not winning...to walk away a better person with a sense of humility that was not there perhaps? That is a blessing. To recognize God's hand in your life despite living in this fallen world... That is a blessing. To count it all joy when all you feel led to do is lash out, fret, worry, cry, and feel forgotten... That is a blessing.

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the proving of your faith produces endurance."
James 1:2-3

So, if our kids end up winning the next three years and never have to suffer defeat, then that is great, however, if they do not win, then God can be glorified throughout their heartache if they seek Him. (Romans 8:28) So, how did we get from a gloriously happy day with the kids winning the State Championship to here? It's a blessing...let me explain...

Lucy called me on her way home from work Friday afternoon. She had a horrendous day and her hubby was out of town for a funeral, leaving her to deal with crisis after crisis in their business. Here's the conversation:

Lucy: I just had to call you and tell you that you are doing good things with your blog even if you don't realize it or believe it. I had a horrible day and was about to close up shop and head home when I received your text about having finally posted. You said that even with stupid people, there are far more blessings with family and friends and life in general and you reminded me why I fought cancer instead of giving up. I am blessed with a family that loves me unconditionally and I have incredible friends who would do absolutely anything for me to be healthy and happy. For a moment, I had lost sight of what's important and why I bother with mammograms every six months and why I suffered through chemo. I almost let myself forget why we started our own business after they fired me for having cancer. (she is crying on the phone now, by the way) You reminded me that I fought cancer and won so that I could experience life with those to whom I matter most. I had almost forgotten and almost found myself in a place where work and the daily grind was so important that it could even effect my spirit of thankfulness. Then I read your blog, cried, gave thanks and headed home. Please don't ever think that you are not making a difference, because you definitely are...even if it is only to me. I don't ever want to forget why I fought so hard and how blessed I am that I did. (sniff)

Me: Sniff. Sniff. Ok. Sniff. Sniff. You're welcome. Sniff. Sniff.

There you have it.

Win or lose, count it all joy.