Monday, February 15

1 Corinthians 13 for Coaches

Though I can fire up my team and get them to give their all, but not care for WHO they are and WHO they will be, I might as well just run my fingernails over the chalkboard.

And if I can see what will happen on the field or court, and understand every play, and I coach them to a winning season, but have not love for my players, I am nothing.

Even if I give all of my time and strength to the team, and surrender my personal best ... all for the glory of the win, but not live to model how God loves my players and those we play against, I have gained nothing.

As as coach I must teach and model patience and kindness. To never envy those that play better or explode in jealousy over our loss and their win. To never boast or taunt when we win. Nor strut around and mock those we play against.

I am to show my team how not to be conceited and stuffed with pride; to not be rude or get a stuffed head. To not insist that we are always right and the calls must go our way; to not seek what is best only for yourself. And when the play falls apart, the call goes against you, and you or your teammate messes up; you just get up and keep going. You don't fret or hate. You don't take account of what just happened. You get up, you learn, and you keep going.

I will never celebrate the bad call or cheating that "goes our way". I will be glad, and even cheer, when our wrongs are corrected.

I will strive to coach in such a way that my players can stand up under anything. To take off the fields and courts a life that will seek the best in people, know that endurance will yield results, and that they can endure the trials of life.

Loving and seeking the best for my players will never fail. I will soon not know what to do, nor see what play is best, nor even know what to tell my team just to keep them going. Why? Because I'm weak and only have limited abilities. So I will rather rely on God. And He alone is perfect.

As a player I wanted to be cared about. To be encouraged. To improve. To get stronger. Now that I'm the coach I desire those same things for my players. Yet, I also know how much more there is than the game and soon I will be gone from their lives.

By one thing only do I want to be known. Love. That each player, parent, and coach can feel it, hear it, and experience it.

There is ability, that is good. There is hard work, that is better. And there is Love, that is the greatest.