SACRIFICING FUN FOR HONOR (and fun)
As we arrived at our gate at the airport we were pleasantly surprised to see Alexis, Carson, and Brittany there waiting to board the same airplane as us. Alexis commented that the coincidence should be worthy of my blog… How could I argue with that?
Like our little one, they are on spring break. The difference for them and the friends they’re going to meet is this will be their last spring break as kids still at home. Next year they’ll be at college, most will be at different colleges, some in different states.
I know these girls pretty well, I coached them for years. Which means for almost 6 months of every year I saw them almost every day of the week, year after year. To look at these girls and all the other girls I coached, I realize no one would probably ever be able to tell how dedicated they are.
A person might never be able to guess how much sweat and blood spill from their bodies over the years. Although all of them are good students and most of them excellent students, they’ve already learned what some people don’t learn their entire life.
Yes, they live and understand hard work, they also grasp the perseverance that has to accompany it. More importantly they savvy the sacrifice it takes to succeed in life.
While most kids their age are taking a full week off from school and all things associated with it, they’re just taking a long weekend. They will cut their vacation short and head back to Arizona to play Lacrosse.
They are continuing a tradition I began seven years ago. This trip for me is the first one I’ve taken without cutting it short like my lacrosse girls in those seven years. The program I was honored to be part of and contribute to has been and continues to be pretty successful, not just because we won more times than we lost, but because we all sacrificed in order to be able to say we did all we could do to succeed… “No Regrets”!
It is my opinion that there is no success in life without sacrifice. If someone considers sitting in front of a TV as the pinnacle of they’re life a success, I think they’re lying to themselves.
The question of sacrifice becomes who or what are we sacrificing for? It’s a delicate line between selflessness and selfishness and most of us dance back and forth over the line. When the sacrifice becomes an obsession it picks up too much steam and crashes through the barrier and falls into the valley of “too much of a good thing.”
That is my tendency… I’ve crawled out of that valley, up it’s slippery sides more times than I can recount. After all the trips back out I’ve sort of left myself a trail. It’s easier for me to recognize now when my sacrifice is ill-motivated or done with proper intention just taken too far.
Sometimes in life moderation feels like average. In truth, I think it does take passion, perseverance, and sacrifice pushed past center in order to succeed. It’s not easy to push, work, and sacrifice, if it were easy a lot more people would be doing it.
I hope as those girls push forward and sacrifice they take the time to consider their sacrifices and their motivations behind them. I especially hope they consider daily the ultimate sacrifice of Christ that allows confidence, power, and freedom over their flesh.
When I see my lacrosse girls my heart is always lifted, the pride rises in my soul. I’m proud of all of their hard work and sacrifice. I respect them for their choice to be the small minority of people who will push and sacrifice in order to find success that can only be defined by their attitude and action.
The next day I watched the U of A Wildcats take on the number 1 ranked USC Trojans. Three of my Lacrosse girls I coached did the brunt of the damage. Sacrificing fun for honor, they led the Trojans until about 8 minutes left in the game. The Wildcats ended up losing by 3 goals. I apologize to my girls who are now on their way back to Tucson, I can’t post the picture my wife took of them after the game. Mel, Kelse, and to my daughter Ali, I couldn’t be more proud. Those girls defined success today… What an honor to watch…
I know they will carry what they’ve learned with them and pass it on to others and maybe even their children someday.
Where ever those girls go, whatever they do, they will take a piece of my heart with them… And they will wear it well…
Bobby
Sunday, March 27, 2011 @ 10:54 pm
Floyd,
Out of everybody that reads your blogs, I think I get more joy out of them than anybody. What makes me laugh the hardest is reading your blog about the change about your gym closing. It takes me way back. You probably don’t remember, but you were always one of the first people that I would call whether it be night or day when I was in a study and I was going really deep. Some of these studies have been as long as thirty years. You were always the first person I would bounce them off of. Also, one of my main intentions was to spark you with the excitement that I had. My intentions were always pure because I was doing them out of love for my brother. When I read what you’re writing nowadays, all I can do is say, thank you Jesus. You have definitely caught a spark from somewhere. One day while I was telling you something pretty cool in the Bible, and was relating it to history and also to today, you asked me a question. You said, “How did you come up with this from the Bible. What made your mind go to where it did to come up with what you’re saying?” I paused and thought for a moment and I said, “Floyd, how come your arms are so big? How come your legs are so strong?” That was all I said. You replied, “I got it, jerk..” and then you laughed. You have definitely been spending time with your Maker. There is nothing like it, is there bro? Keep up the good work. Remember, your gym is everywhere you go.
No, I did not type this. It would have taken me a year. I keep promising myself to start, but I suck…what can I say?
Bobby
Floyd
Monday, March 28, 2011 @ 8:29 am
There is no question that you’ve had a huge impact on my entire life. I thank you for the “tough love” so many years ago, I remember many of your nudges, I had just forgot that one, but now that you mention it I definitely remember and it made me laugh again. I probably couldn’t call too many people “jerks” and have them laugh and take it as an expression of love. I’m honored by your words brother it means more than you know. You must have been using stones to light this fire because it took a while, but it did finally catch. You know how hard it is to light a fire when it’s raining selfishness, stubbornness and pride. In the end only God can light the fire, but I’m blessed to have Him use my brother as the match…
Kelsey
Sunday, March 27, 2011 @ 11:39 pm
Thank you so much for coming today. Mel and I were talking in the car about how we would be no where near the people we are today had it not been for you. Thank you for everything Floyd you were an amazing coach!
Floyd
Monday, March 28, 2011 @ 8:34 am
What a thrill to watch all of you play in college, I’m proud of you guys, keep up the attitude. In the end it’s more about that than anything else. You are all gifted, use your talents to do well. I’ll continue to watch with pride. Thanks Kelsey
Lauren Wheeler
Monday, March 28, 2011 @ 12:27 pm
Floyd,
I kind of feel like a broken record sometimes when I talk to you (sorry!), but I am going to say it again. I really don’t know where I would be if I hadn’t had you in my life as a coach. Words can not explain how much of an impact you have had on all our lives. I know I wasn’t able to see you or my teammates at the last game in California, but I can honestly just imagine how it went! I remember the last game you came to that was in Tucson and I was watching the HHS girls play from the sideline. I don’t know what it was, but there was something different about the way they played and carried themselves in general. It was as if they had this burning desire in them that couldn’t be explained, but only experienced by knowing how we all sacrificed a lot in high school in order to achieve great success.
I especially liked this blog because of the whole message about sacrifice. It really made me stop and think about everything. I honestly don’t even know what to say…..but I do know that when something has a bigger vision with nothing but good intentions, and it is hard to get that message across to others, I don’t give up. You taught us to start with the end in mind.
Love you Floyd!
Floyd
Monday, March 28, 2011 @ 1:13 pm
Wow! I’m humbled by your words, being able to recite what is part of you now. “We are beginning with the end in mind.” I can’t recall how many times I said it, but I’m thrilled you still live with it. I missed seeing you and Chloe in Cali, but I know it is a difficult trip. I’m also looking forward to seeing you guys play Kasey and Andy and the other ASU girls. Thanks for the kind words and I too might sound like a broken record, but I don’t mind saying, it was an honor and a privilege to have been and still be part of your life. And I love you too…
Jo
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 @ 6:08 am
Floyd, you must be very proud of the girls and from what I have heard – you have definitely made a difference in their life. I remember being at your house and you were having a meeting with the girls. I could tell then, how much you meant to them. I sit here crying again!!! How I miss watching Joey play baseball! I will never regret the times we traveled to watch him play. I would do it all again!
Floyd
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 @ 9:08 am
I know you and Stan sacrificed a lot of time and money for your kids, but that is what it’s all about. I guess you already know that. Doesn’t it go by in a blink… You already know I miss the days with all those girls, I knew I would before it became a reality. In the end the sacrifice is a blessing. The more we give the sweeter the memories. Thanks for sharing Jo. I’m with you…
April
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 @ 6:35 am
Sacrifice is necessary to get anywhere good in life, but you are right, if you are not sacrificing for the right thing or the right reasons, then it’s no good. For example…Cain and Able. Cain gave a “sacrifice” of whatever he had leftover because Cain was not sacrificing from his heart. Able gave the best animal he had available to God even though it was his favorite…that’s a sacrifice worth making. God was pleased in that.
Good post!!
Sorry I haven’t commented lately, but it’s been a little busy and I expect it won’t slow down for a bit. 🙂
Floyd
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 @ 9:12 am
Hi April! Great point, it is all a matter of the heart and no one knows our hearts as well as God himself, not even us. I know you have a full plate, whenever you get time to provide input it’s always welcomed and appreciated. Jr. is our priority and all it takes to care for him.. Always good to hear from you. Thanks
Jessica Livingston
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 @ 12:27 pm
Floyd,
I must say that you have quite the gift of putting your words and thoughts down so eloquently in writing. I’ve always enjoyed hearing what you have to say but I can especially relate to what you are saying here. It’s such a blessing to be a coach and to be able to be a part of so many players lives. You get to watch their confidence blossom and their dedication grow stronger. By learning to give it all and make sacrifices for what you believe in, you soon also learn that you can go so much farther then your mind ever thought was possible.
I just want to thank you for all your dedication and sacrifices to girls lacrosse. You have made such an impact, not only in the sport but also in so many lives.
Floyd
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 @ 1:29 pm
Thank you for your kind words, they are truly an honor coming from you. I think I shared with you some years back that without one another we couldn’t have accomplished what we did. For your heart and dedication to our community and to all the girls on all the teams, I too thank you. Your passion for the sport and the girls have raised the bar for girls lacrosse in AZ. It is evident as we watch them advance into the world. I have a different perspective now than I did at the beginning, that might be obvious. All the girls are important and all their lives are equally special, I didn’t get that in the beginning, but you did. It just takes me a while sometimes, what can I say? Thanks for your ongoing dedication to the entire lacrosse community. I hope you’re recuperating from your knee surgery OK. It says a lot about your passion for the sport.