By Mallory Mattingly
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud made young fan John Sperring’s dream come true.
“He’s a very humble player and always puts God first in his interviews,” Sperring, a Make-A-Wish recipient, said of why he wanted to meet Stroud.
Church Leaders reported that the young fan was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Shortly after his birth, he was helicoptered to another hospital for open-heart surgery.
He’s had three surgeries and might eventually need a heart transplant, but through it all, Sperring leans on his faith, telling ESPN that “Just praying to God that he would heal me quick and I could get back” gives him strength.
When the Stroud and Sperring met, they instantly bonded over their faith, and Stroud was amazed by Sperring’s childlike trust in God in the face of adversity.
While on his visit, Stroud gave Sperring a VIP tour of the Houston Texans’ NRG Stadium.
Sperring even got his own locker and jersey, met the players and coaches and secured some pictures with several of his favorite athletes.
As Stroud and Sperring toured the stadium, Sperring told the quarterback, “you’re a great Christian,” to which Stroud replied, “Thank you, I’m trying, bro…My dad was a pastor, so he taught me a lot.”
Related: Tom Brady, Jayson Tatum and Aaron Judge Surprise Make-A-Wish Kids
Later on, Stroud presented Sperring with a custom jersey that he signed. It read, “praying for you, buddy,” accompanied by several Bible references: Psalm 34:15-18, Philippians 4:6-7 and Jeremiah 29:11.
Psalm 34:15-18 reads, “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to blot out their name from the earth. The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
“You already had me tearing up earlier,” Stroud told Sperring towards the end of the visit. “I’ve been through a lot, made a lot of mistakes. I’m proud of you, bro. You’re 12 years old. You love Jesus. I love that. Keep that childlike faith.”
During Sperring’s second day with the team, he was given the chance to break down the huddle. After that visit, Stroud told Sperring, “I appreciate you, man. You make me want to play harder.”
What a wonderful and encouraging experience for both Stroud and Sperring.
Read Next: Texans QB C.J. Stroud Helps Texas Kids Attend Church Camp: ‘Blessing’
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