But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23, NIV
To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 1 Timothy 1:2, NIV
Lately, God has caused me to cross paths with former athletes of mine after a great deal of time apart. These not-so-chance encounters have been a great encouragement for me, knowing that God has used me as a coach to help boys and young men transition into adulthood.
The first experience was in a barber shop and involved two young men I coached in football. One, I had coached in a rec league almost 30 years ago. The other, I coached when he was a freshman in high school 15 years ago. The one from 30 years ago is now coaching young girls in a flag football league. I was honored that he had enough respect for me to ask for coaching tips. The young man from 15 years ago was waiting to get his hair cut. While I sat and waited with him, we reminisced about how I used to call him “Corn Nut!” He acquired this nickname because his last name is Cornell, and he was as tough as a corn nut!
My sister and sister-in-law happened to be there as well, and were still there after I left. Later, my sister told me that “Corn Nut” said, “You don’t get any better a person than Coach Sweeney!”
I’m so grateful that the Lord used me to impact these two men!
About a month and a half later, I was having breakfast with an elder from our church. I noticed two other men sitting in a nearby booth. These two guys have been friends for a long time and played on the same rec team I coached with the young man I ran into in the barber shop. Throughout their 30-year friendship, they played middle school and high school football together, worked in the same district as teachers and coaches, and worked as community work instructors and daycare owners. It was such a blessing to see that they are still friends and speaking into each other’s lives! But, the even greater blessing to me is that the one who is a teacher and coach also serves as a deacon in a local church.
As I watched these two lifelong friends bow their heads in prayer before they began to eat breakfast together, the Lord vividly took me back to the times when I would lead their whole team in prayer before games. It was as if the Lord was saying to me that they, like Timothy to Paul, are sons in the faith!
Dear gracious and heavenly Father, help us to continue inspiring students to seek Your Kingdom first so that they may have Your Spirit in which to pass on gentleness, kindness, peace, and joy to other students who will in turn be their children and grandchildren in the faith to us who have spoken your truth into their lives!
Copyright Chad Sweeney.
Chad is a Christian Educators member and a PE teacher in Kentucky.
