I am creating this blog in an attempt to fulfill the purpose for which I was created. As I look back in my life, I have always been a coach at heart. Since the time that I can remember, I have been standing on the sidelines of the lives of the people that God has brought to me encouraging, instructing, and providing training to help them to reach their potential. Even on the playground in elementary school, I found myself coaching the weaker players on my team so that I could win the game. At that young age, I realized that the weakest player could make a difference in a win or lose if they were given just one instruction and made to believe that they could make a difference. This applies to all areas of life.
When I looked up the word, coach, the definitions I found did not include the word encouragement. This was surprising to me because in all of my experience as a coach, as an athlete, or student of anything, it has been the people who instructed me with encouragement that have had the greatest effect on my life. In my opinion, a great attribute of a coach is to notice the gifts and talents in people that they have not yet been made aware of. Then, you can give them instruction and encouragement to help them grow both personally and in areas of skill such as soccer.
As I prayed about this blog, I came across a few definitions of encourage that really fit with my coaching style: 1. to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope, and 2. to fill with courage or strength of purpose, and 3. instilling life, energy, courage, or vigor into something. A synonym that I like for encourage is embolden- the giving of courage sufficient to overcome timidity or reluctance. I have emboldened my players on the soccer field and I have emboldened women at the local homeless shelter. I believe that the essence of coaching is having an ability to help people understand what they need to do and also help them to believe that they can overcome the obstacles that stand in their way.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:11 we are commanded to encourage one another. I pray that my words will encourage you in your walk with Jesus. I pray that God will use my words to help you in overcoming obstacles in your life. I pray that the Lord will use this as a way for us to encourage one another.
