Are you ready?

They will begin their conditioning this week. Their body will be stretched, their mind expanded, and they will hurt all over. No one looks forward to the first week of football, not even my sons; they know what will be expected of them and how much effort it will entail. They will burn more energy in those two hours a day, than they have all summer long. During the summer they relaxed and were not as disciplined in exercise, and beginning next week they will pay for it. When they think they can not go any further, when they want nothing else than to sit down and call it quits there is a person on the sidelines, yelling at them. “Keep going; only just a little bit further; come on I can’t do it for you; this is something you have to do to be successful,” he yells each day. Many times they get mad at the person on the sidelines; they think “who the heck is HE to tell me what to do?” They think that person was placed on this earth just to torture them; at least that is what it feels like at that moment.

Then game day arrives, there is much anticipation and excitement. The players walk on the field with butterflies in their stomach, they were forced to eat something that morning because they were to nervous to be hungry. Each player is scared they will forget everything they have been training for; the guys on the other side of the field look so much bigger. What were they thinking to agree to this kind of torture, they stood there thinking? They rehearse in their mind everything the “yelling man” on the sidelines said during practice, wishing they paid more attention.

The first ball is hiked, the first sack is made and then the butterflies seem to be disappearing. The game is happening, good plays are made, then suddenly the ball is coming straight at you, so are all the big opponents. First thought was to panic, then instinct kicked in and without a second thought you catch the ball and run for the touchdown. You stand there amazed you were successful, where did that skill come from? You take the ball, walk over to the “yelling man” and hand him the ball and say, “thank you, I get it now; you were not here to torture me or make me miserable. You saw what I could be, before I ever was. You pushed me further than I thought I could ever go. I am successful because you believed in me.”


Butterflies happen each time, they don’t go away. The opponents always look bigger than they really are. And we will always get mad at the people pushing us to be something we don’t see. In the end it will all make sense, when you are put into battle your training and conditioning will become instinct.

Dear Christian, keep the conditioning up; sometimes you will be called to be the player, sometimes you will be the “yelling man.” In the end you will know that it is not by your strength but His that you will win the game. Also, it is you alone that can fulfill YOUR purpose (no one can do it for you), but you need the other players and “yelling men” around you to help you succeed.

I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and
complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the
gospel of God's grace. Acts 20:24

Lets go girls, there is a game to be won and we need each other!

You can visit me at my personal blog: Laurel Wreath