today was another day on the ice. actually, my whole weekend has been on ice, starting with practice and my nephew's game last night, my son's scrimmage this morning followed by my little nephew's scrimmage and then my big nephew's game. but i digress.
the point of this blog is the little skater who has stolen my heart. he's the smallest guy on my 5-year-old's team. his name is eliah and he is four. when hockey started this year, eliah went to the learn-to-skate program and told me matter-of-factly that he would just watch, thank you. we got him on the ice and he slowly walked to the wall and clung to it for the next 45 minutes. he wouldn't budge, but he asked me if i would like to hear him sing a song. he sang twinkle twinkle little star.
we kinda got to know each other, but i never knew eliah's last name until he put on his hockey jersey at the first real practice. when i saw it, my eyes filled with tears. so THIS was the little boy who lost his 'famous' daddy last summer--the daddy who was a hockey stand-out and a beloved varsity coach. i glanced at his beautiful young mommy, holding eliah's little sister, and felt the lump well up in my throat. how hard was it for her to be here, in the hockey rink, sharing her husband's sport with their little boy...alone. i just know they used to talk about it when he was alive...him teaching eliah how to skate and coaching him and fitting him into that first jersey. my heart hurts over stuff like this. i don't know how people go on, i really don't.
eliah hasn't been skating for the past few practices, and he didn't come to the game today. i missed him. when i got home tonite, there was an email from his mom on our computer. she explained that hockey is just too hard right now, and maybe eliah will try again next year. i'm pretty sure she meant "hard on me" rather than "hard for eliah." i wrote her back and told her we'd miss him, but we totally understood.
how is it that people you don't even know...may never see again...can completely touch your world? i say a prayer for eliah and his sister and mommy almost every night. i hope it helps.
5 Comments:
Thanks for sharing this. It makes you appreciate the little things in life. I cannot imagine how hard it was for their family, it brought tears to my eyes. I am sure it will just take a little time and he will be out on the ice. He will make his father proud.
8:53 AM
Oh Carey, this was a great story. I know his daddy is looking down on him and he will someday be on the ice again. How hard that must be for everyone. I think as we go through life we come across these people, these experiences and it makes us learn about the true meaning of life. I know my heart has changed so much and I know God puts these people in our lives for a reason. They always say there is a reason for everything that happens and maybe touching lives of those they hardly knew is the reason. My faith and belief in God has grown stronger with these experiences because I know God is making me stronger. He is doing the same with you by Elijah and his family coming into your life. Even though you hardly know them, there is a reason for them crossing your path. My prayers go out to this family, and I'll look for this little man to be the next famous hockey player in the years to come.
11:12 AM
I know it helps, buddy. Don't stop praying. This woman is living my greatest fear, and I'm so thankful that God has put you in a position (physically and spiritually) to provide them comfort through your intercession.
3:51 PM
aw shoot. i have a mental picture of this little boy from the first time you told me about him. this saddens that picture alot :((
but, yes Care, you are there seeing them for a reason. maybe eventually you will make friends with this woman!!! i hope that she and eliah do come back next year...
11:37 AM
I have not read your blogs for a month cuz I couldn't figure out how to get back in there...pathetic I know. Anyway they are making me sad. What happened to the hockey coach? And what does that teacher think about Jace...she makes me sad. And will you always walk around with one forward and one back? Will I walk with both forward the rest of my life? So scarry! Anyway, I have been meaning to talk to you about Jace and school. There are two schools here in Sioux Falls that would be great for Jace that you and Jamie could ponder on. One is the Challenge center (for beyond bright children like Jace) and the second is a present school that is revamping due to a grant they received...it is an elementary school that is going to have a large emphasis in Math and Science. It sounds really cool. I just wanted to let you know if you did not already.
Love ya Carey!
P.S. Those hugs at the Harley Shop that you wanted to hand out...were they full front hugs? You did like them there!
9:22 AM
Post a Comment
<< Home