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From October of last year:
Last Night My Son Became A Man
My son is my hero.
About a month ago the eigth grade junior high basketball coach approached him and asked him to try out for the team. After much discussion, most of which revolved around what he would wear to play in, my wife and I decided to let him try out.
During tryouts my son wore warm up pants. He has never worn a pair of shorts in public in his fourteen years upon this earth. We have never taught this as a Heaven or Hell issue. We have always presented it to our twin boys as something we do to be separate and pleasing to God. We have also framed it as a tradition within our family.
That being said, we left the decision as to what to wear to him. He is almost fourteen, and we felt this was a decision he could make with God.
Two weeks ago, he came home and said he had made the team. We were very proud. The boys on the team asked him what he would wear when he played in games. He wouldn't answer.
His coach came to him when he ordered uniforms and asked my son what he would be wearing. He was so kind and considerate. He told my son it didn't matter to him if he wore the warm up pants to play in. He said that state rules allowed for it on religious grounds.
When the uniforms came in, my son brought home both shorts and the warm-ups. We could tell he was trying to choose what he would do. We did not ask him about it at all. At his first away game last week, he came onto the court in the warm up pants. We heard people around us asking why he wasn't wearing shorts. They were kind, but curious.
After the game, the coach came to me and told me that he had asked my son why he chose to wear warm ups. He said that I should be proud of my son's answer.
My son told him that he wore them out of respect for his dad. He told him that my wife and I had left the decision to him. He said his dad was a pastor and might catch flak for his son wearing shorts. He also said he felt more comfortable dressed this way. He told the coach if he wanted him to play this was how it was going to be.
Last night was his first home game. Again he came onto the court dressed in warmups. The minute he came onto the court the refs halted the game and said this was a rules infraction.
As they discussed it, the crowd of about 600 began to chant "let him play",
"let him play". The opposing coach came over and told the refs to let him play. After consulting the rule book, the refs decided it was okay. The crowd stood and clapped for my son as he took the court.
My son did not score last night, but it does not matter. My son became my hero. The true measure of a man is making a stand and sticking to it.
Last night my son became a man.
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