Whoever guards his (her) mouth preserves his (her) life; he (she) who opens wide his (her) lips comes to ruin. Proverbs 13:3
We are 4 weeks into the season. In some ways it is getting easier, in some ways a little tougher. If you have children the days seems to creep slowly and by Wednesday at 7:00 you are still at home alone, your mind begins to turn. It would be so easy at this point to grumble and complain. You are tired, you miss your coach, the kids are cranky, the laundry piled, the dishes dirty and it is only Wednesday - and we still have 6 or more weeks of this!! This is when it becomes easy to "leave your assignment, drop your guard and miss the tackle!"
insight 101: the players assignment is whatever play the coach calls, the guard position protects and blocks the other team, and a tackle is when a defensive player brings down the opposing player to stop them from scoring or gaining more yards.
God wants us, even when it is hard, to lift up our husbands. Honor them and care for them, not tear them down - guard them not tackle them! When you "tackle" or "stop the play" the relationship stops. There is a break in it, sometimes someone is injured. Sometimes you lose yards - going backwards. Have you ever found yourself talking to your mother or friend or co-worker about your coach? The Bible tells us that "life and death are in the power of the tongue" (Prov 18:21). Do you want death or life in your home and marriage? I have heard women say "well, he this and he that" or "why is my husband always at the field and the other coaches are home?". Usually my response is, "have you ever asked him?" But as hard as it is to say it, the real question is, do you make it inviting for him when he is home? How often do we put our wants and needs aside and put his first? Ladies, I understand that men handle things differently. Each coach processes the season and ALL that comes along with it in their own way. Be careful to not let yourself compare your coach with another. Galatians 5:22 says the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. If you stay in the game, there will be another play. You have another chance to guard your husband and tackle the enemy!
Application 101: Now that my husband is a head coach, he spends more time at the field. But that just makes me want to have the home ready for him even that much more. And I know that he does not spend any more time up there than he has too. I ask him about his day and how practice went, we go to the school often. We go to the games. I am interested in his life, what he does, and he knows it. I pray, a lot. And not just for me, but for him. I know that I can do nothing apart from Christ. He gives me the strength to be the helper He has created me to be for my husband.
Stay in the game, don't check out. Surround yourself with people that lift you and your husband up. Seek wise counsel. Pray. Until Christ returns there will always be a season. You can do anything for a season!
Thank you for your insight. My husband teaches and coaches here in the Houston, TX area. He is a football and baseball coach so right now we are in the midst of football as you well know. He is part of a program where they work 7 days a week, literally. Most nights it is are for him to get home before 8:30 until it is a game night (sub-varsity and varsity) then it is much later and then on the one non-game night (F or Sat) he is done much earlier. I must admit that this year is much harder for me for a couple of reasons 1.) we are now married (9 months as of 9/19!) and 2.) he is working longer hours, in general, than he has the entire time I've known him. This is my 4th football season with him. I've come to realize more than ever how much he needs support and encouragement from me, which I do, but know I should do even more and make sure I'm intentional. I could go on and on, but it is so nice to know others are out there too! Good luck the rest of the season!! :)
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