A few weeks ago Katie was playing in the sectional volleyball tournament at Woodrow Wilson High School. I have previously admitted that I am a total embarrassment at all sporting events and this was no exception. In fact tournaments are much worse. On the way to the game, Katie texted me and asked me to bring a migraine pill; not good friends, not good. I come in the gym and it is loud. You see, very few people attend volleyball games during the regular season but MASSIVE amounts show up for tournaments. I found Katie in the middle of the court and shoved a pill down her throat and on we went. 

We played the first game and I could see in her eyes that the headache was still there, but she pressed on. These tournaments are 2 games of best 3 out of 5 so even the best case scenario meant she would need to play 6 sets with a migraine. If you've ever had a migraine you know, that would be awful. After the second set, she looked worse. She was squinting and chugging the water but continued to play. After the third, she asked for Tylenol - again, not good. I gave her all she was medically allowed to have, and we continued. They won the first game which means we were on to play Greenbrier East (the local rivals). Emotions were high, the gym was loud and her head was throbbing.

First set - Momma, I can't see  (She mouthed the words from across the gym) - she kept playing. In between her rotations she collapsed to the floor in tears. It was time to rotate - up she popped, playing flawlessly. 

I prayed, "Help her."

Second set - "Momma, I can't hear. I'm scared."

Me - "Katie, it's over. It's time to come out. We may need to go to the emergency room."

She continued to play. I continued to pray, "Help her."

Third set  - More medicine. I started to pray harder. I could see the pain all over her body. It was awful. 

**NOW this is the part I want you to pay attention to**

I prayed as I starred at her from across the gym. "Help her. Help her God." The game continued. Her pain continued. 

Again, I prayed, "Help her." 

The game pressed on.

Fourth set - We had to win. This kid couldn't play another set. She couldn't. She had tunnel vision and had quite literally lost her hearing from this migraine. 

I prayed again, "Help her God, PLEASE." 

I kid you not as real as I am sitting here on my old leather couch typing this, he said to me, "I AM." 

You guys that gives me chills even typing it because it was REAL. "I AM." 

In that moment, like a lightbulb, I thought, of course you are. How she's played with a migraine for two hours, you're helping her. How she hasn't quit, or messed up, you're helping her. How she hasn't passed out, you're helping her. I knew then my prayer shouldn't have been continuously "Help Her" it should have been THANK YOU.

Fourth set, game point. Katie's serve. This is a true story ya'll. ACE.

(Game point, for the win, in the right hand corner. The most perfect point you've ever seen in your life.) 

My prayers are too often, "Help Me" and not nearly enough "Thank You." SOOOOO many situations in my life, I ask for God's help and I wonder how many times I didn't slow down enough to hear the "I AM."

I might get that tattooed on my wrist, I AM, because I need that reminder every single day. When I need help, peace, encouragement, He must be saying, "Kelli, I am. I am helping you. I am bringing you peace. I have brought you so far. Look around child. I AM."

I don't know who needed this today but I know someone did. God IS helping you. Maybe you too need to stop saying Help, and start seeing all the work that has already been done. All the mountains that have already been moved.