It’s that time of year…football season. The lull of summer is passing, kids are returning to school, and hopefully the temperature will begin to change bringing a slight breeze for Friday night lights. It has always been my favorite time of the year – even before kids!

I have been a VOL and Memphis Tiger fan since I can remember (football and basketball). How can those two co-exist? They can. Prime example two rivals who both have my heart for different reasons – the Collierville Dragons and the Houston Mustangs.

Trey and Collin played football from the CYAA (youth league) age until high school at Collierville. We are and will always be Dragons. I remember from Trey’s testimony video he said, “I love football. I love football first, playing it, watching it…” I know Trey didn’t mean he loved football more than God, and as parents, we made sure it was not his idol. Proof? I guess showing up at church on a Wednesday night late after practice – sweaty – without a shirt on proved his devotion. Not a bright call on his part, but he was there and Keith made sure he put a shirt on.

I have mentioned many times that the picture below was taken by Roger Cotton, the team photographer, the night the Dragons beat the Mustangs in 2011 (September 2, 2011, won 14 to 6), just months before we found out about Trey’s cancer. Roger captured the excitement just at the right moment. I cannot remember much about that game except that Herman Osteen Field was PACKED on both sides of the stadium…classy versus trashy. I don’t even know how classy v. trashy began, but let me tell you, both schools took it very serious from clothing to hyped trash talk. I’m sure many remember those days! And they were fun for both sides.

Fast forward to Dragon football season of 2012. Trey passed away in July before football season began, but he sure wanted back on that field. When I mentioned before about Trey running into church late after practice, that is one place there was no division between Dragons and Mustangs. Matter of fact, most of his friends at church went to Houston. That made this win (and bragging rights) even sweeter in 2011. But in 2012, the Dragons and the Mustangs came together to honor Trey – August 31, 2012. The Dragons did not win the game. Matter of fact, they lost 24 to 10 and played AT Houston. The quarterback for the Houston Mustangs was Gavin McCrary, the eldest of the McCrary clan, and I am close with the entire family. That was a night, even though the Dragons lost, two teams did co-exist even though the competition was there to win a football game. NOW, maybe this information will help you grasp just a little of my affection for this picture.

I read an article recently about co-existing in our daily lives as Christians. My search was about faith and fear, something I am learning a lot about. I do not question myself about my faith. I have a personal relationship with my Savior that nothing can break. But wait, I have fear; fear of cancer. This is something new for me because I have not experienced this kind of fear. My sister said something very profound last week – we have confidence in God and all that He can do, but we do not have confidence in cancer and it’s ability to go away. The Lord knew we, as His children, would have fear. This is why He so often comforts us. Because He knows that within perfect faith, fear cannot exist, but within our imperfect minds and hearts they can. He wants us to know that simply because we experience fear does not mean we don’t have faith.

So, I ask that you pray for us. Jay is a rock and I am the one afraid; afraid of losing my best friend. When you are a “fixer” and I can’t fix him, frustration is overwhelming. Jay does not like my frustration or where it takes me…with our finances, his health, everyday life, and I understand. Right now, while my fear and faith might co-exist, make no mistake that my God is bigger than any fear I might have, and fear will not rule our lives. It’s a choice.

You are all a blessing to us, and we are very thankful to those who have signed up on our Meal Train and who have donated to our Go Fund Me. We already have enough to pay our smallest bill to West Clinic, which brings such a relief to our daily fight. It has been hard to swallow pride and accept any help given, since so many helped us when Trey was sick. Again, thank you.

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

#prayfortheErwins