Can we get an "Amen!" (and a lozenger, please?)

We just got home from {A’s} last basketball game of the season, before play-offs start next weekend. And it was a HOT one.  Neck-in-neck the whole game, always 1 to 3 points ahead, then behind, then ahead.  It was CrAzY I tell you. Especially for first thing in the dang morning.  My heart was pumping, my coffee was sloshing all over, and I was, as usual, screaming my head off!!  I am not one of those quiet, graceful mothers on the sideline, who claps politely, no matter which team scores.  I mean, I admire them. But I’m just naturally…..competitive. : )

So we were down to the wire, in the last half of the game.  There was 6:29 minutes left to the game, and it was 8 to 9. We were down by one point.   I can’t even tell you how many times the other team missed a shot, and in the rebound, {A} knocked the ball out of their possession (and out of bounds) with her long monkey arms.  All season we laughed about seeing her arms reach up out of the crowd of girls, and either catch the ball out of mid-air, or knock it out from someone else’s  hands on the other team, about to catch it.  It’s funny because those long, long arms just always seemed to ascend, out of the sea of arms, like a saving grace.  We can almost count on it. Anyway, then the other team scored, and made it 8-11. So with 6:28 left in the game, we had to make 2 baskets to win. My heart was racing, and we were feeling a little….hopeless.   By then, both teams were playing harder than ever.  But {A} wasn’t even out on the court at this point. ( I did happen to notice a tv camera guy come in and set up. Oh man.) With about 4 minutes left to the game, they did a line change. So now, {A} and her accomplice, #2, were back out there.  STILL – it was a tall order.  Still down by 3 points. Even one basket wouldn’t save us.

As time counted down, #2 brought the ball in past half court, and long shot passed to {A}, who was by the net, with her arms up, just waiting. {A} shot, and it bounced off the rim, but she caught her own rebound.  By this time, the other team was all over her, and all she could do was pass back to #2.  By this time, I am really screaming my head off  to #2 ( I was using her name)  “It needs to GO IN!!  GET IT IN!!!!”.……as she received the ball, shot, and scored!!  Making us one point behind, with just over a minute left on the clock. I am screaming in my now raspy voice “THANK YOU!!!”  I am on my feet and all in a tither.  So now we were down to press time.

#2 looks at the clock. We can see she is determined to get that ball back. (She’s a tough and hard player who doesn’t mess around. ) So the other team brings the ball up, our team steals it, and the other team knocked it out of bounds. 38 seconds left to the game!  We regain possession, and pass in. I think our girls kept making shots in this time, and missing, and the other team kept knocking it out. The clock is starting and stopping now, with the ref’s whistle blowing, calling fouls, ball out of bounds over and over….it was crazy.   As all of this is going on, I wondered if this situation, that had my adrenaline pumping over time, was worthy of prayer??  I just REALLY, wanted our girls to win the LAST game of the season. And we were so close!! To lose by one point, NOW?  It was such a tight game, all the way through, and I just wanted my girl to be happy they won today, ending this season of regular games.  So I did start praying….hard!!  I just said, “Father…PLEASE. I just want them to win this one. I want {A} to go out with a big smile, knowing her team came through, and won this last-big-game. “…and reluctantly added, “If it is Your will….”.    I knew it was kind of a petty prayer.  But then, isn’t ‘no prayer too small?’  Aren’t we to bring all of our wants and needs to God?  Because I know He’ll let me know if I was being ridiculous. lol.  I was feeling just a little…..desperate. I think we ALL were.  It was almost more than we could take!

It seemed to go on forever, back and forth, and yet the seconds were ticking away on the clock.  At 6 seconds, #2 passes the ball in from under the other team’s basket (where we need our ball to go!!).  {A} receives the pass (OMG!!! It is all up to her!!!)……, and I am screaming to her “5 SECONDS {A}!!  PUT IT UP!! PUT IT UP!”.…..4 seconds….she’s open, but they are swarming in fast upon her………

She quickly turns to the net and puts up her shot, and as it is flying throw the air, we ALL KNEW….This is it…if it doesn’t go in, it’s over.

IT WENT RIGHT IN!

SHE DID IT!!!

The buzzer sounded, and the crowd erupted. I don’t even know WHAT I was screaming then!! Daddy-Boy was whistling, I was screaming words of joy of some kind, {A}’s team was all over her!!  I flew down those bleachers and ran across the court to give her a HUGE HUG!!!  I was SO HAPPY for her!!   It was THE WINNING SHOT!!  With 4 seconds left, everyone thought it was a game, until that unexpected shot. It was JUST….. UN-BELIEVABLE!!!

We are all just on cloud 9 this morning.  But more than the amazing shot that won us the game with virtually NO TIME LEFT, I am AMAZED that my little, seemingly insignificant (to others….perhaps to YOU) prayer, was important enough to be heard and answered with a YES. I keep hearing the scripture in my head:

“Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you”
(Luke 11:9)

All I asked was for the girls to win this game, and make them go out happy.  But He gave us MORE than that. He put the ball in {A}’s hand, and gave her the winning shot.

Some may think it was a coincidence.  Why would He answer such a silly prayer, that isn’t REALLY that important, in the grand scheme of things? It was just a little joy I wanted…..maybe too badly. I don’t know why He would take time to hear me, over a basketball game. But I feel that He did.  He MORE than answered my prayer.   Maybe simply, because I asked, in that hyped up moment of desperation. Maybe because I thought to turn to Him.  Maybe, because He just wanted to remind me, that He is ALWAYS there, for anything.  He’ll make the decisions about how He answers our prayers.

“So, THANK YOU Lord! I acknowledge that you not only heard my little prayer for our girls basketball team, but you answered with an abounding YES. I am grateful. We are ALL grateful. We praise You. And frankly, I am personally feeling just a tad spoiled by You, My Heavenly Father, this morning. As always. Your blessings are bountiful; big and small. My throat is all torn up and raw, but really, I’m GOOD!  I am humbled, and happy.    AMEN.”

And oh yeah…..film at 7:30 p.m., tonight. Local Channel 13.  ; )

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