The Elephant in the Room - (or on the field)

Wouldn’t you love to be able to capture and contain the excitement, the hope for the future, the anticipation involved with all events leading up and into the first game of the season? The time when you are undefeated and full of hope and promise for the season. You feel so alive, energized, unbeatable!

Everyone has been working so hard to get to this point, and when it finally comes, it brings with it an electrifying momentum that makes everything seem within reach.

Here we are. It’s Game Week…2020…

But…. it’s like there’s an elephant in the room (or should I say on the field?!)

Way too many what ifs, hows and whys lingering and trying to squelch our excitement; steal our joy, trample our hope, run away with our excitement and anticipation of what this season could bring.

Dare we be excited?

What if this?

What if we think on how God gives us the opportunity to have that first game experience each and every day – even nowwith temperature checks, masks, and 6 feet apart.

With the dawn of each new day comes His promise of possibility; His hope for our future. How different would our lives and the lives around us be if we approached each day with that same excitement and confidence; that same energy that makes everything seem within reach?

Throughout the season, “firsts” will come to many of us evidenced by first undefeated seasons, first losing season, first wins or losses over biggest rivals, first area, region or state championships. For some, this may be your first game and season as a coach’s wife. Others are anticipating the birth of a first child or grandchild.

What a comfort to know that when each day comes, we can move forward full of hope, energized, and empowered because of His promise to each day carry us in His arms.

Especially now, with the elephant in the room (or on the field).

Praise the Lord; praise God our savior! For each day He carries us in His arms.

Psalm 68:19

Connie Davidson has been a coach’s wife for 40 years married to longtime Oxford High School varsity basketball coach and AHSAA Hall of Fame Coach, Larry Davidson, who now serves as Oxford’s Athletic Director. Connie is a former elementary school teacher, reading specialist, and district coach for Oxford City Schools, who now works with Curriculum Associates managing professional development across the country. They have two married daughters and three grandchildren who complete their home team.

Though her coach’s role has now changed, Connie views her time now as God’s nod to her that now is the time to put into practice all He has laid on her heart over the years in her “coachwifelife” – the joys AND the struggles – how to “make the bitter sweet.” Now is “her” overtime with founding and directing Beyond the Bleachers.

She often refers to her coach as Coach Honey, and they truly love their school and community. Most any night of the week, season after season, from one sport to the next, they can be found in the stands and on the sidelines cheering for the Oxford Yellow Jackets. They have no doubt God placed them together where they are and intended for them to stay. How else can you explain one coach in one school doing what he loves for 40+ years?

Only God can do that!