Playoff Victory

My son-in-law is the linebacker coach for a local high school football team that qualified for the state playoff championship. While driving 165 miles yesterday to see his team play their second playoff game I was struck by the beauty of creation. What majestic panorama’s surrounded us. How blessed we were to see such things and to have a glorious day.

The game was played well with both teams moving the ball, scoring, playing outstanding defense and both teams desiring to win so badly. Our team lost the game on the scoreboard but were great victors.

In the center of the field after the game, the players kneeling on the ground, surrounded by parents, students, and coaches, were not just high school boys who had played a football game; they were a group of classy young men. There were tears and disappointment but there was also young men of leadership and courage who over the course of the year had bonded together as a unit, who supported each other, cared for each other, and did honor to each other.

Where did this come from? It came from a coach who told them that things don’t always go as you want them to go, but that they would be better young men because of it. It came from another coach who had experienced state championship teams, but told them they were the team he treasures the most. It came from another coach who told them they would always remember this day and the quality young men that they were. It came from another coach who was so emotional because of the genuine love and emotions he has for these young men that he couldn’t speak to them.

Yesterday these young men learned some key lessons of life. Yes, they learned that they were not moving farther in the playoff’s; but they also learned that they too can be mentors to others as they go through life. They learned from some men who poured their lives out to them in love and taught them the real values to cherish for ever.