Tonight was the big game–Mount Nittany vs Park Forest, the hometown throwdown between the 8th grade football teams from our middle schools. Since we have a lot of guys playing, we thought we’d take our middle school group to see the game. And what a game it was.
It was a defensive battle for most of the game, with a couple of goal-line stands making things interesting. The slight rain did nothing to dampen the spirits of the players, or the hundreds of fans who showed up to root on their teams. Mount Nittany broke through with a touchdown with less than 2 minutes to play, and came away with their first victory over Park Forest in several years.
My son plays for Mount Nittany, as do several of the young men who are part of our middle school group. We’ve got one young man (hey Jordo!) who plays for Park Forest. One of my good friends (and fellow youth pastors) is the head coach for Park Forest.
It’s been a fun year to watch these young men develop their skills, learn to handle the highs of winning and the lows of losing. Their progress from game 1 to game 8 has been remarkable.
But a special thanks goes out to the men who help them learn the game. These coaches put in long hours for very little or no pay. It’s not easy being a coach. They get second-guessed by those of us in the stands for every play that doesn’t turn out right, and have to deal with more than their share of “why isn’t my son playing?” They sacrifice time away from their families and other pursuits to pass along a love for a game and teach some very valuable life lessons, and I think they need to be thanked.
I’m grateful for the men who have shaped my life. From my dad, who was my baseball coach from the time I was 5 until I graduated from high school to the countless other men who spoke into my life, I have been blessed.
Tomorrow I plan to write a thank you note to Levi’s coaches. They take a lot of grief from parents who are unhappy. I think they need to know that someone appreciates them and thinks they’re making a difference.
Who do you need to thank for their influence in your life? Why not send them a note today?
0 Comments