Merry Christmas and may God bless you, everyone!
Last week I received my first, and one of the best, Christmas present; Mary and I attended one of our grandson’s football awards program. His team won the Tennessee State Championship! Congratulations team and coach.
My gift was hearing the coach talk about the players. Let me paraphrase, I’ll not use the names, as I can’t remember them all and wome may be embarassed by such outstanding complements:
“These men won the championship because they decided to get up before 5 every morning and lift weights in the gym, they decided to run as well as lift to condition themselves as winners; they decided to put the team in front of themselves; they decided to listen to their coaches; they decided to study the playbook, and more important they decided to be attentive to their scholastic work and maintain their academic standing. In short, they won because they decided to win the state championship!”
Then he introduced each of the players and talked a bit about him.
“… has a grip on life comparable to his grip on the football. He could catch any ball that came near him. I can’t wait to see what he does in college.
“… is the type of kid every parent wants to have.
“… gave of himself more than any coach could hope for.
“… will be as successful in life as he is kicking. He made one 55 yard field goal and on the practice field made a 59 yarder. Everyone loves this man.
“… is our unofficial team chaplain. He leads a prayer with as many of the players as want to attend (all of them) before each game.
“… had a neck injury last year and was out for the season, but he came back this year and worked hard everyday at practice. He walks the halls with confidence and is an inspiration for everyone he meets.
“.. is great on the team, but also does well in the classroom. He’s the kind of guy every man would like to have date his daughter.”
On and on it went until Coach had complemented all 36 of the graduating seniors.
Then with the same positive attitude he introduced his coaches and saved the most important coach, in my opinion, for last, the Character Coach. Every team should have one,
In fact every kid should have one as a father and another as his mother. Unfortunately, that’s not the picture today and kids learn – develop – character from their teachers and coaches
After all the introductions coach went on to say that. “In life, change is often necessary to advance oneself in whatever field you choose.” He was offered a job as Athletic Director and Head Football coach at a new school and had accepted. He expressed his love for all the players he had coached and the parents and faculty who helped him succeed.
The audience was quiet for what seemed like ten minutes then erupted into a standing ovation. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
Who’s going to miss us when we step out of our jobs? Will anyone miss the character we posses
s?
Do we have the character that we want our kids to emulate? We are our kids character coaches no matter what ever kind of character we have!
What a great evening everyone had, I wish you all could have been there!
Merry Christmas!