New challenges... New perspectives...

So, I’ve never liked football.  I thought football was only good for two things: (1) Superbowl parties (what girl doesn’t love to throw a good party), and (2) Superbowl commercials (mini-Darth Vader was the best this year!).   Over the years, I’ve had guys try to tell me the rules, and the point of all the bone-crushing action, why they are SOOooo passionate about it all, and really… I was snacking in the kitchen with most of the other women talking about “UGGs…In or Out of Fashion?” by the end of the first quarter.    

Then HE came along… my husband of two months!  Two football seasons ago, after he had me hook, line, and sinker in love with him, Steve came up to me and said in the sweetest of all tones, “Babyy??...”, and then these came these words, “Soooo… the Cowboys season starts this Sunday.  Would you mind if we watched it?”  (He didn’t have a TV to himself at his ‘bachelor pad’, so most TV viewing was done in my living room.)  What’s a girl in love to do?  Sunday afternoon is prime time with your man, and I didn’t want give that up!  So, I said, “OK, baby,” figuring that he would watch football while I sat next to him on the couch shopping on eBay for my latest find.  At least then we would be spending the time together. 

He would get into it – not in an annoying “paint your face and beer belly and go on national TV” sort of way.  But like his brothers had just turned the tide of an epic battle to go down in the history, and he was celebrating with them.  It was quite charming, and eventually…contagious.  So, I would look up from my online bidding wars occasionally and ask a total girlie question, like, “Why are you happy when your guy just got knocked to the ground?”  (And he would explain what a 1^st Down meant.)  Over the past two years, I put down the computer a little more, and asked a few more questions.  Not only did it become fun to join the epic battles WITH my man, but I was learning to enjoy something I was SURE I hated not too long ago.   Now?  I’m actually sad to see the Superbowl go, knowing it will be several months before Sunday afternoons are full of football again at the Haley house. 

Sure, part of this is about love, but it’s really more a type of this season of my life.  What am I SURE about today, but, given an honest chance, or a fresh look in a new season of life, could I find is really different?  New challenges bringing forth new perspectives, which then bring forth new challenges.  And the cycle continues - whether it is at work, at home with my new husband, with friends and family, or most importantly… within.  Sure, there are growing pains, but really, I wouldn't have it any other way.

There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears. ~ Phil. 1:6 (MSG)