"THE BOYS OF FALL"

“THE BOYS OF FALL”

The song, “The Boys of Fall,” stirs up warm, fuzzy feelings for football seasons, both present and past.  The changing of the season, the leaves, and the new life of a new school year are all wrapped around one primary sport, football.  For seasons past, whatever part you played, whether as a fan, player, cheerleader, pep band, or parent of one of these, the idea of fall football and all that goes into it brings back fond memories. 

For me, they are memories of large white pompom corsages that boyfriends pinned on and ugly “Go Lions, Beat the Panther” ribbons that could be bought for a quarter to be worn throughout the week.  They are painting huge banners to hang in the school halls, praying before games for the safety of our players, and standing for the National Anthem.  They are memories of sitting in the stands cheering our team on or watching the homecoming queen get crowned out on the field.  But most of all they are those of watching the football players go out week after week and get pounded to the ground, only to get up and walk away for a few minutes, and then to return for another pounding. 

Not being a guy, I could never really understand willingly enduring that kind of relentless torture week after week.  The thought of being hit repeatedly has just never appealed to me.  As a spectator, and I’m sure as a player also, you grow to appreciate one large part of the game, the uniform.  Those overlarge shoulder pads, leg pads, and helmets with headgear that protect our “boys of fall” from the falls week after week are seen as a necessary part of the game.  Since football is such a physical sport, it is very much like they are going to battle with their gear as their armor.

Though we don’t play football daily, we do daily play a game called life, fight battles called temptation, and face a world where we are constantly knocked down.  We, alone, make the choice of how we face these daily struggles.  Just as we would think it self-destructive for a football player to run out on the field without his protective uniform, we are facing self-destruction if we run into our day without putting on our Spiritual gear.  We should bind God’s Word so tightly around our hearts and minds that the tackles of this world cannot penetrate our faith and shake it.  We must not forget that each and every day is a battle of some sort and stay focused on the part we play in not falling ourselves, protecting our team mates, and ending it victoriously. 

Football is a game.  Life is real.  Tackle wears out.  God endures.  Today will be a day.  We will be prepared for it, or we will lose.  Chose God as your protection for this day and hold fast to Him and His Word and don’t let the Opponent overcome.   Whether you won or lost yesterday, choose to win today.

Roberta Pledge 9/16/11