To All of the Young Women I Coached:
It’s funny how memories are triggered. At any given moment one’s thoughts can be in one direction and then an image or some other reminder occurs and acts as a catalyst to worlds we once knew or experienced.
Time reverses course for an instant. Such was the case recently.
Last week Mrs. Coach and I decided to watch one of my favorite movies, The Mighty Macs. If you have never seen the movie, I would highly recommend it.
In short, it is the story of a no-name women’s team from Immaculata College near Philadelphia and the first NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship. The team was coached by Cathy Rush, a first time coach with an almost first time team.
I will not bore you with details about the movie except for one – the story reminded me of you.
As we watched the movie together, there were moments where I either held back tears or allowed their warmth to form small rivers as they made their way down my cheek. The story made me grateful of our time together at Meadowbrook Christian School.
The calendar rarely, if ever, lies. We were first together as a team in the fall of 1995. Can you believe nearly a quarter of a century has passed?
I know this might be making you feel old – sorry! How do you think I might be feeling at the moment?
If you care to reminisce in an abbreviated fashion, feel free to check out one of my former blog posts in which I recount some humorous and real details of our early years together.
During this time in my life and for much of the ten years I coached, you individually and collectively were more of a blessing to me than I ever thought I was to you.
I decided to coach as a means of spending time with my own daughters, but also as a diversion to the real life issues playing out in my life at the time. Without getting too much into the weeds, we all go through seasons in our lives which are difficult and test our fortitude.
In short, it was during this time I lost much heart and in many ways was searching to rediscover who I was and who God made me to be. The pressures of my work life and not fully being content with how the road on which I traveled at the time with respect to it wore on me, often I might add.
You gave me a reason to smile when on the inside I did so infrequently. As a team you were fun loving and gave me much joy. We were the Lady Lions.
Our initial games were scoreboard catastrophes, as we often lost by thirty, forty, fifty, and yes, sixty points! As a coach and with Mr. Davis’ help and friendship, we often pointed you to find the silver lining no matter what the scoreboard said. Remember this – there is always a silver lining.
Tears often accompanied our post game moments together. At first they were tears of frustration which eventually turned into tears of joy. At the moment, I am envisioning the very last game I coached (out of 166) and how it turned out and the smile cannot be wider. Please know this – with God, all things are possible.
We had long bus rides and at times very late nights. We did this together and as a team. The sum of our actions was always greater than any one of us could have produced by themselves.
We also had one of the best smelling locker rooms on the planet. It was often scented with a variety of creams and lotions. Thanks for being my moisturizing cream supplier. I always counted on you during the dry skin days of winter.
Over time and as our basketball program continued, we made much progress.
It reminds me of a key principle. Those who have gone before us often have paved the way with much sacrifice to allow those of us who follow to experience life with less hassle. In short, be grateful.
As I write this, and without identifying anyone in person, I can see your faces. Yours were and are the faces of young girls learning the lessons needed to become young women.
Sports, or in this case basketball, was simply the means by which the lessons were delivered. You were uncertain and timid about this game. In time, your learned well both on and off the court.
Most of you are now wives and mothers. Some of you have careers while juggling your marital or parental roles. I commend you no matter what the case. Your day to day lives are hectic and active and rightly so.
I would encourage you to rest in His presence and make it an intentional part of your life. You deserve the peace only Christ can bring.
Some of you have faced unimaginable heartache in life which either was or is very difficult. Hopefully, you have emerged the stronger despite these experiences. I would encourage you no matter the situation you may face, God is readily available to not only hear your prayers, but to answer them. He has also promised to never leave you. Period!
You made me proud to be called your coach and I consider it one of my life’s great honors to have spent a brief time with you. Thank you for being a blessing to me. I often draw on our moments together and I thank you for them.
In writing to you, I did not want to miss the opportunity to say something that needed to be said. I did not want to allow this moment to pass without telling you the impact you had on my life. Thank you for the blessing you were to me during a tough season and being the zany, crazy, young girls who have now matured into women.
I appreciate your contributions to my hair loss and with what I have left, the grey hair coloring. I could always count on you.
In closing, I love each one of you and appreciate our time together as a team.
No matter where you are and which road you have traveled, please continue to know your life has a purpose and you do make a difference even when you think you might not.
Find someone other than yourselves and make an impact on them.
Can I ask a favor?
This open letter will be posted on my blog and eventually make it to Facebook and Twitter. Not knowing where life has taken most of you, I would appreciate you sharing it with former teammates or their parents if you have connections to them or via anyone in the MCS community.
If you care to share any thoughts or comments I would love to hear them. Thanks…Coach