Good Son-Day Morning!!!
No, Coach, Football Players Do Cry
Last Sunday, I was coaching a 7th grade game in Forest Lake Minnesota. I was a substitute because the real head coach was late coming to the game. My intent was to attend the game as a spectator and to support. I did not know the players, their roles, and their plays. The team was in disarray and I had to settle them down.
I directed them with some simple plays to begin with until their coach arrived. I have learned that if you get too complicated with the play calling it only leads to disaster on the field. Even so, just hearing from a different coach caused them undue stress. After the first play, one of the bigger players came to the sideline completely broken down in tears. He comes to the sideline, muttering, “I can’t do this, I can’t do this. It’s too much”. This player had missed one blocking assignment and therefore the rest of the game was hopeless, so let's pack up shop and go home.
A second player, a wide receiver, comes to the sideline crying. I, tongue in cheek, say to him, “ 7th grade football players don’t cry”. His reply made me pause and smile. His reply, “Oh no, coach, this football does cry”. To which, I put my arm on his shoulder and said walk with me. I asked him to tell me why he was crying. He said, “I dropped a pass and it’s going to cost us the game”. I reassured him that a dropped pass in the first minute of the game was not a cataclysmic mishap that would ultimately determine the outcome of the game and their chances to get into the playoffs. I told him to stand tall in the confidence of his training and go catch 3 passes to make up for the dropped one. His tears stopped. He smiled. He returned to the field. He caught 3 passes. His stress was real, but now all was right in his world.
I had to help him regain his composure otherwise he would have been incapable of contributing to the team at his optimal ability. Stress does this to people.
I provided some level of reassurance to the wide receiver with mortal words. Imagine what inspired words can do for you when you are coping with stress.
You can see from above I found some humor in what was stressing both players, but understood from their life experience perspective their stressors were real and serious. They saw hopelessness. It was my responsibility to bring hope and opportunity.
God sees your stressors from your life perspective and more importantly from His perspective. I reassure you there is nothing too cataclysmic for Him to handle. STOP Worrying and pray about it. Quoting many church mothers. . . God answers prayers.
Don’t worry over anything whatsoever; tell God every detail of your needs in earnest and thankful prayer, and the peace of God which transcends human understanding, will keep constant guard over your hearts and minds as they rest in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
Immortal, supernatural words of assurance regarding God answering prayer. Christ said this,
“Even though you have a sinful nature, you know how to give good gifts to your children. How much more will your Father who is in heaven give good gifts to those who ask HIM!” Matthew 7:11.
My parting scripture for when you are feeling stressed.
Psalm 94:19
When I was very worried, you comforted me and made me happy.
I guess there was truth to the song, “Don’t worry, be happy”.
Song of the Week- Hallelujah! Sing a New Song to GOD. Sing HIS praise in the assembly of godly people. Psalm 149:1
I love the way
You embrace
Broken people like me
I love the way
You won't forsake
Broken people like
[Interlude]
Me-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e, e-e-e-e-e
Woah-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
[Verse 1, Israel]
I've been written off before
Down to the slamming door in my face
I tried to hide my scars
But you specialize in wounded things
[Verse 2, DOE]
You waited up for me
Because you never sleep; You never slumber
I'm healing as we speak
'Coz you specialize in shattered dreams
[Chorus]
'Nd I love the way
You embrace
Broken people like me
I love the way
You never turn away
Broken people like
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