These words (in my post title) make my heart jump. Years ago, I would have never known just how much joy, fulfillment, excitement, and passion could come out of me in coaching track and specifically coaching at this particular track meet. I have been blessed in recent years to have coached at two different schools who both compete in one of the strongest athletic conferences in the state of Missouri.
Today was that track meet. I had only six girls competing (we are a team in a building stage and did not qualify many girls for the event finals today). However five of those six girls set personal records today. I cried. I cried also when, as an official hand-timer, I had – race after race – girls from my former team finish in the place I was timing, so I got to go out on the track and chat with them as I reported their time to the finish clerk. I also cried today when one parent came up to me today and thanked me for coaching track. He said his daughter was having the “thrill of her life” and loving every moment of the track experience. This could not have been more impacting as I have recently been missing my former team terribly and wondered if my current squad was buying into the program I am trying to establish. I see a glimmer of hope.
Lastly, find the song “This is Home” by Switchfoot and listen to it, buy it, love it. Watch “Facing the Giants” a few hundred times. Consume a vanilla bean frappaccino from Starbucks. Enjoy life.
Our God is good…
2 Comments
April 27, 2009 at 8:01 am
great to hear that you are enjoying the blessings from God. Great music as well. Thanks for sharing and encouraging others! I only pray that my kids will have people that will impact them for eternity as apparently you are with your track team!!! Way to use your gifts!!
June 16, 2009 at 7:23 pm
I went to Starbucks and ordered a frappaccino. They apparently don’t make those in Nebr – must be a St Louis thing.