Coach, I'm Praying for You!

COACH /kohch/ - noun. a passionate, dedicated individual who unlocks hidden potential and maximizes a team’s performance by believing, encouraging and developing. [See also: ‘teacher’]

With the starting back of school, many of us find our lives immersed in school sports and extracurriculars. I challenge each of you who have a child involved in such activities to chisel out a time in your day to pray for those individuals who are pouring into your children. So often as parents we are consumed with OUR children…their performance, their playing time, their positions, their success, and their failures on the field or court, and we lose sight of the life lessons taught and learned out there.

In the past, Will and I have questioned coaching calls (Will tends to be a little more animated and verbal with his questioning than I am). However, I have had moments where I totally disagreed or was frustrated with a coach. I too wanted to be a little more animated until I realized the amount of time Billy collectively spent in the hands of these individuals and how those individuals would influence him in ways I never could. Through that realization, I decided I had an obligation to my son and that was to pray for those individuals who had the power to build him up or tear him down (and I’ve seen both of those things occur).

Let’s be honest, not all individuals coach equally. Not all coaches understand the fundamentals of the relationship and how relationships reveal the blueprints to our children’s hearts and some may not care. But as a coach, if you can find the key to a kid’s heart, you can grow a relationship that will maximize athletic performance and effort as well as build the internal character of that child. Not all coaches look for those relationships which leads me to believe it is my duty as a Christian parent to pray specifically for those relationships.

All coaches are sons/daughters, husbands/wives, and fathers/mothers first. They deserve to have someone pray over their lives and all their personal relationships as well as the relationships they will develop with our children. Coaches give many countless hours of their time to our children with very little compensation. I pray that not only will their influence positively impact our children, but the relationships with our children will allow the coaches opportunities to find beauty and inspiration.

These days I need assistance to remember the smallest tasks even when they are of the utmost importance. What I have done to ensure I don’t miss a day praying for the men and women in my children’s life is to set an alarm on my phone. I currently have one set at 11:18 a.m. titled “Pray 4 Billy’s Coach.” Ben is moving up to the middle school and will have his own set of coaches. I will set a separate alarm for him. This summer Bo saw the alarm for Billy’s coaches going off and he was curious as to why I set that alarm. I explained the concept to him, and he promptly told me he didn’t have a coach but did have a drama teacher who I should pray for because she was kinda like a coach to him. He is exactly right. So, I will set one for Mrs. Renae too. We should diligently pray for ALL people who repeatedly give up their time and energy to invest in the lives of our children.

I challenge you to pray for relationships. Pray for the relationships of the coaches and players. Pray for the relationships between teammates as well as the team dynamic. Pray for the coach’s relationship with God. Pray God will reveal Himself to the coach and provide him/her with direction to lead the team with noble character. Pray for the coach’s family. Pray for their time as a family. Pray that time will be protected and will be a renewal for the coach. Pray for the coach’s health (coaching is tiring and takes a toll mentally, physically and emotionally on a person). Just pray. Some days my prayers may be quick and general. Other days my prayers are lengthy and specific. But my prayers are diligent because I am certain that the men who Billy call coach can provide him confidence, teach him work ethic, give him vision and hold him accountable as a player, a student, and a person.

Thank you to all the men and women who have invested in the lives of my children and will continue to do so. Thank you to all the men and women who invested in my life. You taught me and gave me so many moments I cherish to this day. Here’s to all the men and women who find their passion as a COACH or extracurricular leader! You are appreciated!!

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 1 Timothy 2:1

Forty will be Fabulous!!

As my summer break ends and August begins, I have reflected on the past couple of months. This reflection uncovered a whirlwind of exhaustion. I honestly believe I was more rested on the last day of the school year than I am after being off for two months, and this exhaustion is not the result of any personal accomplishments, mind you. I am so upset that I completed NOTHING this summer, but I am more upset to recognize that I have not been living my best life. For several years I have been coasting along, struggling with depression, avoiding surrendering my vices and postponing committing to my callings. During the past couple of weeks, I became overly aware of how important it is that I do surrender and commit. However, I am still sauntering with the acknowledgment of my plans to make life changes. I am declaring changes to ensure that my FORTIETH year is indeed fabulous! 

I am far from fabulous at the present moment. I believe I am currently my heaviest (if not I was only a few pounds heavier after I had Billy). It’s gotten ridiculous. A couple of summers ago, I lost over 20 pounds and swore I would never gain it back. Well, I did and then some. I have ZERO energy and my knees and back have aged well beyond 40. My blood pressure isn't great. I've been on medicine since before Bo was born.  I’ve got to take back my health!! I have decided willpower is not my thing, and I  need divine guidance to give me the strength I will need physically and mentally to accomplish the tasks needed to lose weight and get healthy. Now, I will tell you right now I have no desire to be a health nut and I refuse to give up all sweets for forever. Birthday icing was created to be enjoyed and I intend to enjoy it (in moderation, of course).

I have toyed with the idea of fasting before for religious reasons. Then I thought how fasting could help me lose weight, but then I thought that’s not right if I am fasting to lose weight and not grow closer to God then the fasting would be superficial. I never did it, but then I had lucid moments of understanding about fasting. You fast to seek God. You fast to find answers from God. You fast to surrender something to God. You fast to make a commitment to God. What better way to find power over food and depression than to give it to God through fasting. I eat to eat. I eat when I am watching television. I eat when someone else wants to eat. I eat to have something to do. I like food.  If I know that the only way to have power over this addiction in my life is to give it to God through fasting, I don’t think that’s superficial at all. I have found an app that has intermittent fasting schedules. So, here we go…I’m going try it. I will let you all know how it works to help me break the chains of wanting food so often.

Food is only one step in this year-long refinement process. I was born August 17, 1978, and will be 40 years old in 16 short days. I am gonna use those numbers as guides for my #FabulousAtForty journey. My goal, that I may or may not meet but will shoot for, is 78 pounds. I will be okay with losing a more realistic 40 pounds as well by my 41^st birthday. I started yesterday with 40 squats. I will begin and end my day with 40 squats. I will probably add to that with planks or curl-ups or such. I will let you know what I find that works. I have been pondering the best goal for miles to walk in a year and I think I have decided 780 miles. I believe it is a doable goal. I initially wanted to walk 1,978 miles, but I don’t want to set myself up for failure. So, I have decided to use that number for mental exercise.

                I still have a stirring in my soul that tells me I should be writing, but I do not make the time and when I do I sit in front of a screen and write nothing. Well, I will etch out 1,978 seconds a day to write. I will write something if only a sentence or two. However, I am making a goal to post 40 blogs this year and FINISH that story/novel I started several years ago. I read something that said it’s not fair to your characters not to finish their story and you know, I agree. So, Benjamin Mumford and Amanda Shepherd I will tell your story…

                There was no need for me to write this or post this except that I need those of you who do read these blogs to encourage me and more importantly HOLD ME ACCOUNTABLE. Ask about my weight. Ask about my exercise regimen. Ask about my blogs. Ask about my story. Life is meant to be shared. My husband totally doesn’t understand the social media world, and I tend to agree with him in that not everything NEEDS to be shared. Too often social media becomes a sounding board or a showplace or a self-seeking abyss. I do not want my blogs or posts to ever be a blast of showboating or mindless rants, but a place of offering praise and contemplative discussions. For what it is worth, I believe God gave me perspective and voice to share with others. You often never know the impact your words and actions have on those around you and those afar. I am trusting that God provides me with the right words to help or heal or inspire or entertain the audience members who find me. So, here’s to Post 1 of 40… #FabulousAtForty #FantasticForties #prayforme

Extraordinary Brilliance

Some days are good. Other days are great. Every once in awhile you happen on a day that is extraordinary. Today has been one of extraordinary brilliance. I have always loved sports. While coaching the football cheerleaders and raising boys of my own, I began to learn and appreciate football. Baseball has a special place in my heart since it was really the first sport any of my children played and some pretty special people in my life played as well, but basketball. Basketball is a different story. Basketball is MY game. I have loved basketball for forever. Now, when you couple your love for a sport with an intense love for the players, you experience the extraordinary, particularly when you watch them make history. Like an undefeated season. Back to back championships!

As a teacher, a coach and a parent, there are days I feel beat down. Times that I question myself and my ability to do my own life more or less impact the lives of the children in my care. Times that I want to quit, give up, and run away. However, there are moments like today. Moments filled with pride and happiness and joy. Moments that when I look at the faces of those children, I think maybe I am doing something okay.

Sports are unique in that they hold special potential to teach children life lessons. Perseverance. Determination. Humility. Grace. Support. Failure. Success. Confidence. Leadership. Hard work. Listening. Seeing. There are more, but you get the point. I played sports and loved it (most days), but I believe I love helping children develop and grow and learn sports even more than I did playing.

For the girls…

This season I watched a young lady who swore she couldn’t shoot, without using two hands to push the ball up, become the high scorer in a game. She would grab me by the arm and say, “Come help me shoot.” She wanted to be better. I watched another young lady find her ability to lead her team. Even when she wasn’t comfortable in a position, she played it with fervor. She wanted to be a team player. Another young lady struggled to find her shot, but that didn’t slow her down once on defense (and eventually she found that shot). She wanted to help her team. I watched as this team ASKED to have practice because they wanted to work. They wanted to WIN. And they did just that. For the first time in school history, the middle school girls went undefeated. For the first time in school history, the middle school girls won back to back region championships.

For the boys…

This season I watched a group of young men work together to become champions. There was one young man I was particularly proud of this year. At the end of my son’s sixth-grade year, he asked me if I thought he could make the basketball team. My immediate response was, “You’ll never know if you don’t try.” Here’s the thing Billy hadn’t played much basketball…maybe once in recreation. I was so excited he wanted to try out. He played summer basketball with the school team that summer and as an upcoming 7^th grader, he played a minimal amount. He was a really green player. He didn’t yet truly know the game. During tryouts of his seventh-grade year, he broke his kneecap. Who breaks their kneecap? The cast came off at the very end of the season, so he played maybe a total of 3 minutes that year. Then summer ball returned and provided him with some minutes and opportunities to learn the game. 

Now to this season…

Billy’s absolute biggest challenge is his confidence. However, Billy’s coach always believes in him. He always gives him words of encouragement and praise. He coaches Billy the way Billy needs to be coached. I only wish I could verbalize to his coach how much that means to me. At home Will and I give Billy reassurance of his skills and discuss ways to improve his game. He listens (well at least when I am talking about sports…not so much when I ask him to clean up or do homework). Billy is a coachable kid. However, confidence is the key for Billy to play his best.

For the sweetest part of this season…

Before the first round of playoffs, I sent Billy a text and told him that I would be praying for him to play with extreme confidence. Now, when I tell you that Billy played the best game he had played all year that day, I tell you no lie. That, my friends, is the straight truth. He looked so comfortable and natural on that court. He looked like he belonged. He really did play with confidence. As he and I were talking about the game and I mentioned how confident he played, he said, “Because we prayed for that, Mama.” My heart, be still. Yes, sir, we did! The best life lesson of all was learned on the court. God is the giver of all things.

And to the championship game…

Billy can shoot. He has a beautiful three-point jumper, but he hasn’t been able to get it to fall in a game. In practice, he can shoot it all day. In a game, NEVER. Today though, that baby hit TWO threes. You can only imagine the pride bursting from my heart!! I am humbled and thankful for a God who answers prayers. I don’t believe God has a favorite team he chooses to win, but I do believe God can use a simple prayer to plant a seed in a young boy’s heart.

Today, I watched a group of boys play TOGETHER more so than they have all year. A life lesson learned!! Today, I watched a group of boys fight until the very end. A life lesson learned!! Today, I watched a group of boys savor the enjoyment of winning. A life lesson learned!! Working together and never giving up brings success.

I love each of these children. I am thankful I have had an opportunity to be a small part of their journey and only hope at some point during that time I have shown them a little bit of Jesus.

Five hours later and my heart is still racing because of the brilliance that was today. 

Go Trojans! Back to Back Champs!!