Spiritual Favor: When Prince Jaylen met King James (as in LeBron!)
I have come to realize how awesome it is to have Spiritual Favor from God. God favors me and keeps me covered, this I know... However, on Monday, May 11th it was time for my 8 year old son to know about Spiritual Favor as well... This is my testimony.
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I knew Jaylen would be excited to learn I got 4 tickets to the Hawks-Cavs Playoff Game 3 simply because Jaylen adored LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers. In fact, for the last 6 years, Jaylen has worn jersey #23 in baseball, basketball and football in honor of his favorite player. I remember last season in Basketball when Jaylen was handed jersey #11, he CRIED to his Dad and I, “Why can’t I be #23???? I don’t want #11!!!” I cheerfully reminded him he could be #11 in honor of my birth day, but the look he gave me told me, it didn’t make him feel any better about the situation. Ha! Yeah, that’s when I quieted down and let his Dad give him an answer that would make him feel better!
Hours before the game, on Monday, May 11th, I shifted things around in my bathroom, while my son relaxed comfortably on my bed watching what most 8 year old's weren’t, Sports Center! This wasn’t anything new in his two households… Jaylen had all the sports channels memorized and would watch college and pro football and basketball with his Dad or by himself for hours on end.
As Jaylen listened, I also listened, as the commentators gave their professional and personal insight of the 2009 Playoff standings. I watched as Jaylen processed their every word. From past sports conversations with his Dad and other sports fans alike, I knew Jaylen could regurgitate the info with the best of them! He knew players I had never heard of and understood the intricacies and fundamentals of the game that would easily confuse the average person. Yes indeed, his Dad has played a very instrumental role in his life as Coach on and off the fields and courts, and I've watched them bond over sports and sportsmanship since Jaylen was 3!!
Interrupting his program, I casually asked Jaylen, "Son, do you know what 'favor' is?"
Without hesitation, my 8yr old replied, "Yah, it's when you do something nice for someone else."
"Very good," I said, "Do you know what SPIRITUAL favor is?" This time, he didn't have a reply...
"Spiritual favor is something God gives you because you do what's right by Him. Good things happen to good people and when you don't lie, steal, cheat; God makes sure good things happen in your life. Mommy has lots of spiritual favor because of this. Have you been doing what's right by God, Son?"
Jaylen quickly replied, "Yes" then hesitated before saying, "Mom is something good going to happen to me tonight??"
I laughed, "I don't know Son, as long as you've been doing what's right, anything could happen... Anything is possible, anything in the world!"
Naturally, as a true LeBron fan, Jaylen said, "Oooh, I hope I get to meet LeBron James!"
I just smiled without replying… My son had no idea Mommy and one of my bestfriends, Shayla Cowan, already had it in the works… little did he know!!
Being at the game with my brother, my son and his Dad was a great feeling. While Kegan and I are no longer together, I cherish the moments when we can unite as parents to give my son everything he deserves, the best of us.
While I chanted, "Go Hawks, DEFENSE!" Jaylen counter-acted my efforts with a confident, "Goooo CAAAAVS, OFFENSE!!!!!" I just laughed and the people nearby just smiled at Jaylen's energy. An older gentleman enjoying the game with his adult daughter watched Jaylen in admiration, “He knows a lot about the game, that’s impressive.” I humbly accepted his compliment and gave credit to his father, “It’s a special sports bond he and his Dad share, I can’t take credit!”
And when the Hawks lost possession of the ball, my CHILD yelled, "That's right, you can do that with the Lakers, but you can't do that with the CAVS!!!!" I looked at him and thought, "OMG, I can't believe my child!!! This is sooooo embarrassing!” But what could I say; he knew his sport and could keep up like any grown man who had love for the game!
When a friend of mine who works for the Hawks surprised Jaylen with a backpack full of Hawks jerseys and a basketball, his eyes lit up with excitement!
"See Jaylen, THAT is what Mommy meant by spiritual favor!!! You are a lucky kid because Mommy didn't even know you were getting that! That was VERY nice of Mommy's friend, Will!" Jaylen continued to smile as he quickly pulled the ball out to play with it. (Ummmm, you already know the Hawks jersey's remained in the bag though... Ha!)
Throughout the game, I communicated back and forth with Shayla. With every message I received, Shayla's confidence was building... I whispered to Kegan, "I think it’s really going to happen..."
So, when the game ended and I got the message from Shayla to go to Section 113 where the players meet, I quickly rushed an unsuspecting Jaylen and his Dad to the area and handed Jaylen a sharpie and told him to wait patiently.
"Mom, what are we waiting for?" he asked a million and two times, "Just be patient, son. Good things come to those who are patient!"
We eventually moved to the player’s locker room area and waited some more.
We watched Marvin Williams and Flip walk thru and several Cavs players... Still no LeBron, but Jaylen was ready...
He asked one more time, "Daddy, who are we waiting for?" and his Dad said, "Who would you like to see? Whoever that person is, just start thinking about that person and what you would say if you saw them. Think of something intelligent to say."
His eyes darted from one end of the hallway to the next, trying not to miss a thing. Every time a non-player would emerge from the locker room, he'd look up at his Dad and say, "Daddy, who's that?" Kegan just laughed, "He's a coach."
Finally, the King emerged and Jaylen's eyes grew big as he stood back watching LeBron greet friends in the hallway (see video 1 of LeBron) and then my Prince Jaylen stepped up to the throne to meet his favorite player, his idol, and as Jaylen would say, the greatest player of all time.
With all 4 feet and 4 inches, Jaylen poked his lil chest out and looked up at LeBron's statuesque frame and quietly asked the all-star to sign his jersey and take a picture.
Forgetting all about the "intelligent question", Jaylen confessed to LeBron, "You're my favorite player in the NBA" and LeBron chuckled and said, "I try, I try..." He asked for my son's name and shook Jaylen’s hand. Feeling a lil bit more comfortable, Jaylen went in for another favor (ha!), "Could you sign my ball too?" LeBron humbly obliged.
Leaving Phillips Arena, my son's excitement was written all over his little self (see video 2 of LeBron). By this time, the Arena was quiet and the electric wave of excitement was gone - the 20,000 fans had migrated and were homeward bound.
Walking in front of Jaylen and Kegan, I overheard Kegan say, "It's been a good day, huh?"
Jaylen smiled and said, "Yes! I thought I was only going to watch the game but I got to meet LeBron James and get his autograph, Dad!"
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I don't think we were even out of the parking lot before Jaylen was lost somewhere in Dreamland... My child who usually falls asleep at 9pm, was filled with too much excitement to allow the "way past his bedtime" to get the best of him.
Watching him sleep, in his autographed jersey and his ink-covered ball beside him, I felt SO proud…
Proud that Jaylen and his father shared such a special bond which allowed Jaylen to develop his love for the game and the league's MVP.
Proud that my brother, Noah, had been with us to watch the game and experience his nephew's glory.
Proud that although Kegan and I didn't make it as a couple, we have continued to make it as Jaylen's parents for almost a decade!
Proud that I have friends who love me so much they would go out on a limb just to give my son an unforgettable moment.
Proud that I had the opportunity to give my son an important spiritual lesson about favor.
Proud that LeBron James has not only excelled at his craft, but has done an excellent job as a role model to our youth.
Proud that my son thinks his Mommy is capable of ANYTHING in the world.
Proud that a day after Mother's Day, I had the best "Motherly Experience" I could EVER ask for.
And lastly, proud that I have experienced God's Spiritual Favor so often, I can recognize it from a mile away... I'm thankful and tickled that God has chosen me and keeps me transparent to share my testimony so honestly with the world. I'm proud that God blessed me with the ability to paint pictures with words, and proud that I can I can bring words to LIFE.
I'm just proud, so proud to have the character, integrity and spirituality to continue to do what's right, in His eyes, so that my son, my seed, may reap the benefits of my work and prayerfully, do as his Dad and I have done in his years to come…
I’m truly blessed…
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