12 Days of Prayer

It has been a rough week.  Around the nation people mourn and cling to what they love.  This time made us all stop and think.  We realize so quickly that though we may think we are safe we really aren't  There is evil everywhere.  Unfortunately this week, we were reminded of that yet again.  Although our world will never be the same, we must go on.  I feel in many ways sports helps us do that.  It certainly did for 9/11.  It did a few weeks ago for the KC Chiefs and has for several others this year.  Sports helps us take our mind away from the awful truth of the world if only for a little bit.  So with that said I continue with today's post.

We had a rough game on Saturday.  It was our first conference game and it was a battle.  We had a chance to win at the end of regulation.  All we had to do was hold the ball for a few seconds and it was ours.  Unfortunately, it didn't turn out that way.  Sure there were many other chances we had to put it away and should have but that last few seconds it was just glaring.  Everyone was crushed.  WE had it only to see if slip through.  Then on to overtime.  Again several opportunities slipped right past and in the end we lost by a point.  I have always said as a coach or player that I would much rather loss by 100 than by 1 and that still rings true.  I know that may sound odd to many but there is logic.  If you get beat by 100 you know there was really nothing you can do.  If you lose by 1, you start looking at all the coulda, woulda, shoulda.  IT HURTS!

Walking into the locker room after that game I was disappointed.  Usually, win our lose there is some chatter and laughter coming from the players on the other side of the door.  As I opened it and walked in, I was met with a cloud of SILENCE.  Needless to says coach's post game wrap-up was short, not so sweet and to the point.  As I walked through the silence to exit the door on the other side, my heart broke for them.  I have worked with these girls almost everyday for the last 2 months.  Never had I seen such sadness from them at least not collectively.

That silence and sadness stuck with me the 22 hours.  I thought about what I could do to make things better.  To some how connect with them and let them know it would be better.  As an former athlete, when a lose stings like that you don't anyone saying anything to you.  It's just something you just have to deal with yourself but I still felt compelled to do something.  Then, sitting in church this morning, it HIT me.  The Lord really convicted me to pray for them.  Not only as a team, but each one by name individually.  Most of them are catholic and the others I am not really sure but the fact remains that God loves them all and made them all.  What better way to show my team that I love them and cherish their beings and long to help them than to take each one of them day by day to the feet of my Heavenly Father.  He is their Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace and Comforter.  What better gift could I give them this Christmas than to bathe each one in prayers to the One who knows exactly what they need.

So instead of the 12 days of Christmas, tomorrow I start the 12 Days of Prayer.  I will take the head coach and each player one by one to My Father in prayer.  Each day I pick I different name and left them up.  I don't know all of their needs, fears, worries, etc, but I know the One that does.  I must admit this is a little strange to me.  I have never done this for any team I coach, but the Lord just really laid it on my heart to do today.  If anyone wants to join me here is a link to the roster.  Please feel free to do it as you feel lead.  I know they, like I, could use all the pryers we can get.
http://www.udallasathletics.com/sports/wbkb/2012-13/roster