Making a Statement

Reed's 7th grade AAAA basketball team played in a tournament this weekend. They joined the tournament to see if they could compete at this level. If they 'had their lunch handed to them' all weekend, they would drop back to the AAA league. Well, they not only competed at the quad A level, they ended up in the championship game, after taking first place in their bracket and then winning their play-off game. The problem, for Reed, is that the championship game was on a Sunday. Not only on Sunday, but right during the middle of Sacrament meeting. Reed has missed many football and basketball games in the past because they were being played on a Sunday. But he's never had to miss a CHAMPIONSHIP game. He told his coach he wouldn't be playing, but that he would be there to support his team. His coach said that would be fine, he could sit next to him on the bench.

I took Reed to an earlier ward's Sacrament meeting. Then he went straight to the game, wearing his church clothes. He said he got a lot of positive comments from his buddies on the team, as well as from his coaches. His head coach, asked him what religion he was. Reed told him he was a Mormon. Then he asked several more questions about the church and Sabbath Day observance, etc. He ended by telling Reed he thought that was neat and he would like to sit down and talk with him sometime about his beliefs.

After the championship game, the coach of the other team came up to Reed and shook his hand. He told him he was really proud of his decision to not play on Sunday.

Tonight after we got home, Reed said to me, "Well, I think I made a statement today."