The Beast

It has been dormant for a few months, but I hear it stirring. There have been other distractions in the meantime, but the beast is now being awakened. Football season has arrived, and the “beast” I am speaking of is college football rivalries.

It is part of my family heritage to pull for the South Carolina Gamecocks. I will be loyal to their team until the day I die! Mike was raised in a more neutral home. Because both of his parents graduated from a private university, they did not have a strong tie to either the University of South Carolina or their rivals, the Clemson Tigers. They pulled for both, believing it important to support all athletic teams from their state.

This worked to my advantage! It wasn’t hard swaying my love to pull for the Gamecocks when they played against Clemson. Occasionally, I could even convince him to pull against Clemson when they played another team.

It was all going well, until…

…Brandon, my oldest, decided he would pull for Clemson over South Carolina.

Where did this come from? Why would he turn?

For a then 9 year-old, and especially one like Brandon, sometimes it comes down to the practical. His favorite color has always been orange (Clemson’s color) and he thinks tigers are cool animals. Therefore, he chose to exert some independence and support the rival team.

While it may not be understandable to many, I was initially disappointed and taken aback. My own flesh and blood, a son I dearly love, had chosen the enemy? It was almost too much to digest.

It was almost too much for his brothers, as well, who were tried and true Gamecock fans like their granddaddy and their mama. The beast was unleashed; the battle began.

With much shame, I must confess that it started with me. All the old Clemson put-downs came streaming from my mouth in the guise of “good-natured teasing.” His brothers imitated their mom, but carried it to a new level that caused ugly fights and arguments.

Suddenly, God spoke clearly. Are you really tearing down relationships you have worked so hard to build all because of a football team? Do you like what you see among your boys when it comes to this rivalry? And you do realize the big part you have played in it?

Conviction! But it wasn’t too late to do something about it. God put college rivalries in a new perspective. Here is what He taught me:

Everything we do should be for God’s glory, and participating in childish jokes and sarcastic remarks does not glorify God. It fact, it contradicts His own commands.

I have prayed to have a strong, healthy relationship with my boys and for them to have the same with one another, and silly fights over a football team hinder those prayers from being answered.

There are bigger battles to wage with my children than a battle over a sports competition. I want them to know the Lord and walk in His ways. I want them to fight for His honor and glory, not the honor and glory of a football team.

We are now teaching the boys to respect one another and the rival team. No one has to root for for the rival, but the hurtful teasing and bitter words have to stop. Brandon called my dad and congratulated him when South Carolina defeated Clemson last year. It takes a strong boy to be able to do that when his team has lost, and I was proud of him.

Last winter, when Clemson was playing in a bowl game, Brandon sincerely wanted to see his Tigers prevail. I have never pulled for Clemson against any team, but I love my son and wanted to see him excited about a win. I confessed my dilemma to Mike, who simply, but wisely, stated, “Choose your son.”

I pulled for Clemson in that game and was happy for my son when they won. I cannot imagine ever being a Clemson fan, but I am a huge “Brandon” fan, and that is enough reason to set aside the rivalry – to chain the beast, or better yet, kick him out of the house - and support one another.

Be assured. This football season, like all others, you will find me enthusiastically cheering on my South Carolina Gamecocks... but every once and a while, there may be a smile on my face if Clemson wins, too!

“But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.”
2 Timothy 2:23