It’s football season.

That used to mean nothing to me. We didn’t really watch football growing up, and my son, Levi, wasn’t interested in it until he turned 10. Then, very quickly, we became a football family. 

Sundays are different now. We were nervous at first to give up Sunday mass and do the Saturday evening one. My son’s father was resistant to it, knowing the honor and rest a sunday deserves, how precious it is to be with family and God, the right order of it all. It took us a while to see that football added to our sundays, it didn’t take away.

Before, our son would be with one of us, or sometimes both if we all went to Donut Sunday at our friends house after mass.

Now, he always has all of us there, cheering him on from the sidelines. We arrive separately, holding a spot in the corner that has become our spot. Levi’s four little siblings attract smiles and occasionally a mom will come steal the baby to snuggle, walking away from us, showing off how cute he is and how she misses that age. Levi’s dad yells at the top of his lungs, only encouraging things, suddenly a football fanatic. 

We drink pumpkin spice lattes because the weather has turned and stand close together, tapping one another if we see Levi is in. When he scores a touchdown we jump and scream and it’s a victory that runs deeper than the game. It’s hard work and discipline and team unity that brings us to that moment. It’s seeing the work off the field pay off on the field.

After the game we never leave too fast. Levi takes off his equipment and runs around with his siblings, while me and his stepmom talk endlessly about our schooling with CatholicPsych Institute. Levi’s dad listens, chiming in every now and then. And laughing. We’re always laughing. 

So now Sundays really are for family, and football is what did that for us. Sometimes, on a day when the sun is bright, the air is cool, and the excitement in the air is palpable, I look beside me and see this blended family of mine and am left speechless. Here we are, and it is good.

Before the game yesterday the lineman coach walked onto the field, spread his giant arms to his side and yelled, “If God didn’t love football, we wouldn’t have days like today!” I get it, I really do.

We’re thankful for our football Sundays.