Glory to God

I know this will come as a bit of a shock, but sometimes I really love watching football. There are a couple of teams that I root for (I'll keep which ones to myself right now, thank you), but to be honest, I don't like watching football because of the actual game. I like watching football because of the stories. There are so many athletes who have pushed past tragedy, sickness, and devastation to become unbelievable players in their game. I think there is something so special about these individuals who have defied the odds and courageously stepped out onto that field. Yesterday I was quietly crying watching the story of one such player and his brother.

Their story is one that is difficult to hear. I didn't want it to be true. Elliott Mealer plays for the Wolverines. 3 years ago, though, the Mealer family was involved in an accident on Christmas Eve. The boys' father and Elliott's girlfriend were instantly killed. Elliott damaged his shoulder trying to roll the car over, and his brother, Brock, was paralyzed from the waist down. The doctors gave Brock grim news soon after. He had a 1% chance of walking again. Never mind the likelihood that their hearts would ever heal. . .

Horrifying. Absolutely heartbreaking. But these brothers were out on the football field yesterday - together. And Brock walked. Brock walked on the field with his brother. He was wearing a shirt (in Wolverine colors, of course) that had a huge figure on his chest: 1%. That was the number given to Brock by the doctors. He had defeated all of the odds. He had fought a seemingly impossible battle and won.

But the part that filled my heart beyond emotional capacity was what it said right above the 1% on his shirt. Glory to God.

A sportscaster sat down with Brock later during the game to talk with him about his experience. The reporter asked him where he found the strength to have such a positive attitude in the midst of such a tragedy. This young man smiled and shared that it had been his faith - the work of God his Father - that got him through it. There is nothing but the strength that God offers that can so miraculously heal legs, and arms, and hearts. . .

It was a powerful reminder to me. No matter what percentage we've been given for success in this world, God is bigger, and stronger, and wiser. Glory to God.




Glory to God.