So 2Timothy 1:17 has become a staple for me in my life. I do believe God gives us a spirit of power and strength. We are not weak. We can do more then we think we can, and only really know how tough we are when we are faced with challenges. For the most part I have always followed this in my life. Tried to be strong and do the best I can in everything I do. We also have an infinite supply of love to give out. This Christian love strengthens us as well as those we give it to.
This is the time of year that is all hits home for me. First the physical exhaustion is real. Getting up early, staying at work late and all that goes with the physical toll this takes on my body is real. This year throw in the physical demands of not sleeping through the night and trying to run enough to lose baby weight and my physical plate is full. However, this for me isn't the biggest challenge. If I can get one solid night of sleep a week I can handle this part.
Enter the emotional/mental strain. Being there for my kids requires being emotionally present. Not just a physical presence. I don't want any of this to slip through the cracks. So while we get less time this time of year I focus hard on the quality of it not the quantity. Being physically gone more also takes a strain on my emotionally.
I also strive to be there for my players. They need more then just someone telling them how to dribble. For me to follow through on the calling that my job really is, it takes an emotional and mental presence with my athletes. They don't all need the same amount of this all the time, but it seems they each need extra of this at different times. Which means, and I don't mean this in a bad way, it is always something and always someone. This is the part of coaching that people don't realize. They only realize the time you are there for their child. Well multiply that by the 13 kids on my team and 35 kids in the program. I am not complaining, because this is what I sign up for but it is emotionally exhausting.
I would also like to not slip on the being present in my marriage. Being emotionally and mentally there for Jared kinda matters to. So needless to say it can drain you.
For me this is where being close to God and having my spirit renewed is key. This is part of the self-discipline part. I have to make myself make time. If I don't I can't maintain everything else. At least not at the level that I want to. As the verse says God gives us the spirit we need, but keeping close to him is what allows it to renewed.... at least for me.
Lastly self-discipline means knowing what you can handle. For me this is prioritizing and making sure I keep what is most important at the forefront. That is not always easy. That has, again recently, forced me to make tough decisions in my life. We do have a spirit of power and strength but we don't have infinite time or infinite ability to do everything. Sometimes being strong means saying no.
I think this verse can have so many meanings to so many people. No matter what battle you are fighting, and to some extent we are always fighting a battle, remember my friends you have what you need. God has given you that spirit of strength!
So please consider throwing me into your prayer requests over the next fews months. Pray for my strength of spirit. I am praying for my fellow coaching friends as I know they too need that extra strength. My prayers also continue for those I love that are fighting some of the great battles of their lives. Your example gives me a spirit of power and I hope you can feel my love!
