Recently, I had lunch with several beautiful ever-ready-energized ladies of the Concerned Citizens of Hueytown organization. The company was right on! A retired nurse, educators, and other professionals were in the luncheon mix. These women are caring, bridge builders, and leaders who are striving to make a difference in the community.
We ate at The Bright Star restaurant in Bessemer. And the meal was scrumptious. I ordered the catfish special with turnip greens, lima beans, and sweet potato casserole.
One of the ladies observed that we were eating in the Paul Bear Bryant room. A Roll Tide Roll! was in order then and now.
Roll Tide!
I looked over my left shoulder, and there he was, Paul Bear Bryant. The Bear was a University of Alabama Crimson Tide coach. He was one of the winningest football coaches in America. Wearing his signature hound-tooth hat, he filled the picture frames on the wall.
I immediately Denny chimed, “Everyone sitting at this table is a winner.”
And we all laughed.
“I ain’t never been nothing but a winner,” I added.
Of course, this was one of Coach Bryant’s most famous quotes.
In America and most countries of the capitalistic world, there are only two groups of people: winners and losers. There’s nothing in between.
Simply put, if you’re not a winner, you’re a loser.
Every football player won’t be a Rolando McClain, one of the best defenders in Crimson Tide history. But every player and team member can contribute to a winning game.
Even the water boy or water girl is a part of the crew.
Who wouldn’t want to be a part of a winning team?
Did you know that a water boy for the Stanford Cardinal football team became a U.S. president? That water boy was Herbert Hoover.
What’s the point?
There are small and big achievements. But every achievement is a win.
Don’t discount any achievement, no matter how small.
If you’re a member and contributor to a winning team, you’re a winner.
But if your team loses, are you a loser?
If you did your job with heart, you win. It takes doing your best and heart to win in the game of life. If there are no wins yet, you’re not a loser. You are an eventual winner.
Keep trying.
When babies fall while learning to walk, are they losers?
No!
In like manner, when we fall or fail trying to “walk a win,” we’re not losers.
We’re not toddlers. But we’re like toddlers at every untried or new thing. If first, you don’t succeed, try, try again.
What game in life are you playing? How are you going to walk a win?
First, who’s on your team?
Regardless of your aspirations, profession, or occupation, you need one head coach and a few assistants.
The NFL football teams can have 15 assistant coaches. College football teams have 9 or more assistant coaches.
But there’s only one head coach.
Meet my coach. Each member of his team is a winner, and he’s a winning coach.
I’m on team Jesus. And He’s my head coach.
The Bible says, “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy path” (Proverbs 3:6 KJV).
Jesus puts me in the game of life every day.
Some days I’m an assistant coach and water girl, cooling attitudes and affecting wins.
The grandchildren receive pats on the back and attagirls for good tries and results. A few dollars or a movie also doesn’t hurt to motivate them to maintain positive outlooks and good grades.
As stated before, we’re not unlike kids. Grown-ups need positive reinforcement too. As a member of Team Jesus, my husband also gives and receives encouragement.
With our work-life playbook, we offer suggestions to our young adults. Making the right decision isn’t always easy. We remind them that it’s okay to ask for help.
Preparedness for life’s challenges is essential for adults and children. And we encourage everyone with the teachings of Jesus, the head coach.
No one, child or adult, should question his or her worth. No one should feel like a loser.
At birth, we are somebody. And at death, we are somebody.
What’s between the beginning and end?
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13 KJV).
Philippians 4:13 is good conditioning for the body and spirit.
Philippians 4:13 is the motto of a winner.
Believe in you because you believe in Him who strengthens you.
Stay in the game. It’s important to play every inning in the game of life.
Remember, you’re not alone. You don’t have to do it by yourself. You are part of a team.
So, do your thing. Every day believe the fulfillment of your dream is one day away.
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”
On Team Jesus, there’s no loser in you.
THE GAME IS ON!