what. a. game.

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"For there is nothing impossible with our God"

Luke 1:37

it's no secret that the 2015 nfc championship game was something to be remembered.

for seahawks fans - we'll never forget it. we lagged, we were mediocre, we were expected to lose until two minutes into the fourth quarter. some stayed with us and believed, some left early, turned off their tvs and radios because the disappointment of it all would be too much. no one could fault anyone for doing what they needed to do.

as a girl who was there when rick mier  (and can i just say i loved him and rooted for him every sunday) was our hope, i get it. it is no small thing to have a winning season. it's no small thing to win a wild card. it's no small thing to make it into the playoffs. and it is for sure no small thing to win your way into the super bowl.

this is big.

and we've done it twice in the last two years.

no one could dispute that russell wilson was special. we saw that in him as a rookie. we knew that when we narrowly escaped winning the division finals with atlanta three years ago. we noticed that he was - of course - disappointed but also so excited because he knew good things were ahead. he was excited to play with the team he loved and see what they could do.

we've seen what they can do.

i love the heart of this team.  richard sherman, who is smart and talented and runs his mouth like no one you've seen. and marshawn, who is a beast and plows over the biggest of guys and waltzes into the end zone like it's no big deal. and doug baldwin who leaps to make the big catches. and luke willson. and jermaine kearse. and pete carroll in his tennis shoes. and everyone and everyone.

and the 12s. i feel like our hearts have always matched up with theirs, but with this team, we're at our best.

and then there is the other side. there is aaron rodgers biting his lip, shaking hands, doing the obligatory press conferences, through his crushing disappointment. there's mike mccarthy, who spoke to a reporter with tears welling up in his eyes, telling the world that it hurts, but that he's proud of his team. there are the faces on the sidelines that break your heart because you know they know that victory was so close to them - they could almost touch it, taste it. until it was ripped away. we can relate. we've been there. we may be there again. it's not fun.

i see wilson pointing to they sky, saying God is too good through honest, thankful tears, telling everyone that He prepared him for times such as these. that nothing is impossible. not for one second do i believe that God loves wilson more than rodgers or even (gasp) kaepernick. i know that's not how it works.

but there is something inspiring about wilson's humble confidence and his boldness in pursuing the talent that God gave him. He simply trusts the Lord to do what He'll do.

our kids will hear about this game for years to come. i hope what they'll learn from it is that it's great to be the winner. but on any given day you can be the loser, so have compassion. and never give up - even with two minutes left in the 4th quarter. keep fighting and keep believing. have a humble confidence in the talents and gifts that God has given you. He is always your hope, and that means NOTHING is impossible.

and.

go hawks.