I have to admit it, just put it out there for the world to see. I don’t watch football. Truth be told, I don’t watch sports. My late husband was a football player, we always watched sports, so it’s not like I don’t know anything about the game.
I didn’t watch the Super Bowl last night! I haven’t been a big NFL fan for some time now because of all the protest and controversy surrounding patriotism and mixed messages from leadership on several topics. But even that aside, I probably wouldn’t have watched it anyway. However, if I had to pick a team for last nights match up, it would have been the Patriots (queue haters). Sorry, I like them. And I like Tom Brady.
I did catch a few plays during commercial breaks of my Valentine’s Hallmark Movie just to see what was going on. From what I did see and hear, there was some really good football played last night in Minneapolis.
I hit the recorder near the end of the 2nd quarter so that I could catch the half-time show because, yes, I also like Justin Timberlake. Other than the fact that he probably needs to fire the sound guy, I thought it was a pretty good show.
But before the night was over I became a HUGE Philadelphia Eagles fan, appreciating the talent of that team despite my sporadic watching during commercial breaks.
After Hallmark concluded with a predictable ending, I jumped over to PBS to catch “Victoria”, another favorite of mine. But I went back and forth between her and the NFL mainly to see if the game was over as my ultimate treat (or torture) of the night had already been delegated to “This Is Us” which was scheduled to begin as soon as the game was over.
I was thrilled when the clock ticked down and watched eagerly to see if Tom Brady would pull out one of his miracle plays from his pocket for another win that would send millions of people into orbit either with joy or loathing. I suddenly realized that the clock ticking down to the end of the game meant absolutely nothing. The coverage droned on and the revelry and accolades of the Eagles victory seemed to never end.
Do you people realize how many of us are just sitting here, glued to our sofas and recliners waiting for you to go away so we can see what happened to Jack? To find out how he really died. Tissues in hand, myself included, the “This Is Us” followers anxiously awaited the tears that we knew would come as we rejoined the Pearson family to get the answers we had waited for all week. Just send the Eagles off, give them a party somewhere else, save the speeches. We need to see Jack, Rebecca, Kevin, Kate, and Randall.
But then something amazing happened. My tissues reserved for Jack were wiping the tears from my face as the Eagles began to take the stand, accepting the Vince Lombardi trophy for the unprecedented win. (Seriously guys? Kissing the trophy as it’s walked through the crowd during the worst flu season ever! Good luck with that.)
Doug Pederson, the Eagles coach who only nine years ago was coaching in high school and had now led his team to a world title in only his second season came to the microphone and the first words out of his mouth were, “I can only give the praise to my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for giving me this opportunity.” Wow! The tears welled in my eyes and I had such respect for this man and his boldness of faith.
But wait, that wasn’t all. Tight end Zach Ertz who made the game-winning catch followed Pederson with “glory to God first and foremost.” Following Ertz was the man who had been selected the Most Valuable Player of the night, Nick Foles, Quarterback for the Eagles. He echoed Ertz sentiments by first giving God the glory for their victory.
Foles was a backup quarterback, called into action earlier in the season when the Eagles’ quarterback Carson Wentz was injured. Foles went on to lead his team to this world title despite being #2, if you will, on the team.
These guys were the underdogs. It was the Eagles first Super Bowl title in the history of the franchise. Nick Foles was the first quarterback to catch a touchdown in a Super Bowl. And together, both teams played the most yards ever in an NFL playoff game.
There were a lot of firsts last night in the game I chose not to watch in its entirety. But I am so blessed to have caught the best part, even when I was looking for something else. (Yes, there is a lesson to be learned here!)
My hope and faith that God shows up in places you don’t expect, speaking through people in areas you’ve given up hope, showing us He is still working among us, making this world a better place, one testimony at a time.
You know what they did next? After all the celebrations and confetti, Eagles Quarterbacks Nick Foles, Carson Wentz & Nate Sudfeld along with Zach Ertz went to a room by themselves—praying and thanking God. Before even hitting the showers. I like these guys.
Would you go on national TV and give God the glory for your victories? Would you share God’s grace and favor to your neighbor or someone you didn’t know? Our country and our world are in turmoil. The celebrities we watch, admire and our kids emulate too often send the wrong messages. These kind of heroes are ones I can applaud.
