Struggling for a starting position, while one struggles to exist.

Remember, God uses simple, by chance happenings, to teach us valuable lessons. With football in full blast, there comes the stress of fighting for a starting position. Our son was injured last year, thus he is starting over, trying to work his way back up. This is so hard, so mentally draining at times and such a physical strain. Each evening I try to get a feel for how he is doing, without adding to his pressure. His cutting has been effected by the ACL injury, he isn't making the big plays and is generally pretty frustrated. This afternoon, as I was watering flowers and feeling the sweat run down my neck, I wondered how the players were doing in this extreme heat. Wondering if all of this suffering is worth the stress and struggle, when a friend stops by to talk, and I move my thoughts to conversation. We discuss the heat, the flowers, our church, just the general stuff, then....I always want to know more. I asked a more personal question and wasn't ready for the answer. Just a simple, "how many children do you have?" I have a daughter who was born with a birth defect. She requires 24 hour care. I suddenly don't feel the sweat rolling down my back. I suddenly don't notice how dry our yard is or the weeds in my flower bed. I ask for more details and he gives them ever so gently. We continue with other small talk, but my mind stayed on the enormous realization of this father's life. The heat became unbearable and we said our goodbyes. I glanced at the few weeds I had wanted to pull and felt the wet grass between my toes. I don't know if our son will make the big plays to win the starting linebacker position. I have no idea if he is having a good practice or not. I realize it is time to start dinner. How wonderful, our son will come home, hot, hungry, exhausted and possibly frustrated over his practice. Isn't that such a blessing?