It’s amazing how life’s experiences can put things in perspective for you! We, as coaches, get sooooo wrapped up in winning football games that we forget that there are things (and people!) in our lives that are a LOT more important than getting a “W” on Friday night. It was brought home to me this week.
On Sunday, one of my closest and dearest friends died. He’d been battling cancer for 6 months or so and had deteriorated quickly over the last 2 weeks. I went by to see him several times a week right up until the end. It was sad to see such a vigorous, kind-hearted man dwindling away to just a shell. But, his suffering ended on Sunday morning. He went home to be with Jesus! As much as I miss him, I know that he is now free of pain and is full of joy being in the presence of his Lord and Savior. My job now is to comfort his family.
This has taught me to cherish those people that God has placed in your life. Preparing to win football games is important… don’t get me wrong! However, don’t neglect the other parts of your life only to “die on the altar of success” in coaching! You will regret it.
I heard a song the other day which summed up my philosophy on life. It’s by the female Christian singing group Point of Grace. The chorus is a call to how all of us should live our lives. It’s entitled Turn Up the Music. It goes like this:
“Turn up the music! Turn it up loud. Take a few chances. Let it all out. You won’t regret it… lookin’ back from where you’ve been. Cause it’s not who you knew and it’s not what you did… It’s HOW YOU LIVE.”
Good advice for all of us.
