Sleepovers, prayers and soccer games

Last night, Chase had his good friend Daniel spend the night. When we were discussing what we could do for the evening's festivities, Chase came up with the great idea of going to a Colorado Rapids game. Denver is one of very few cities that have 5+ professional sports teams, and a very fine MLS soccer team is one of them. I was hoping the Rapids would be playing the LA Galaxy last night, so I could get a glimpse of the divine David Beckham, but alas. :)

But, I digress...

It was a really fun evening - unfortunately, the Rapids lost the game 2-0 (at least that was the score when I talked the boys into leaving five minutes early to avoid traffic), but it's amazing to watch professional players play soccer! Especially when one has spent one's life watching one's CHILDREN play soccer. When those Rapids passed the ball, it actually went to another player on THEIR OWN TEAM!! (oooh aaah) I heard Chase comment to Daniel, "Aren't their ball skills amazing??" And I smiled. I was just thinking the same thing!

When I was putting the boys to bed last night (at the horrifying hour of 10:45, I might add), I asked them to say their prayers. Daniel piped up, "I don't say prayers." To which I responded, "Ok, well, can I say a prayer for all of us?" He seemed to think that was ok. It made me think of Daniel's mother's response when I invited him to sleepover. I said that he could go to church with us and then I'd bring him home around noon. Her comment was that she'd rather I brought him home before church. Honestly, I've never heard that before!! I was surprised, and have thought about it often since that conversation happened. I didn't ask WHY she didn't want him to go to church with us, but I am assuming it is because they are non-believers. I keep thinking that I should have asked why he couldn't go with us and explained that we don't belong to a scary polygamist snake-handling sect or anything, but I didn't. I know a lot of people who don't go to church, but I'm not sure I have met anyone who was actively opposed to their child going to church with a friend. Makes me sad for Daniel and his brother. You wonder how likely it is that they will ever find a relationship with God if it is actively discouraged in their home.

I am so thankful to my parents for raising us in the church. Even if they had to bribe us to be good in church with the 6-Million Dollar Man show on Sunday nights...somehow, I don't remember a thing from that beloved show, but I remember a lot from those activities in youth group, Sunday school and church. Amazing how, even as a bratty, foul-tempered, righteously-indignant teenager, God got in. I think that's the key - get God in, and let Him quietly work. At some point, most 20-somethings wake up and realize that (gasp) the whole world does NOT revolve around them!!! Honestly, it was a shocking revelation for me. Once I realized that I might NOT be the most powerful force in the universe...I started going to church. I mean, if I'm not IT, then I want to know the one who IS! :)

So, all that said, I gotta run - it's 9am and we've got to drop Daniel off before I take Chase to church! Gotta make sure God is "in" my sweet son before he turns into a teenager and becomes omnipotent!!! It's closer than I think...