At soccer camp this past Tuesday one of my players came over to me as practice was ending and said, "Thanks Coach Wills" and gave me a huge unexpected hug. It was extremely uplifting and encouraging.
Later at lunch I was dismissed from the drive-thru window with a "God Bless You"! I thought to myself, "aren't I supposed to be saying that?"
It thrills me to receive words and gestures like this. It rejuvanates my spirit and reenergizes my soul. It makes me wonder how much better I would feel (and the receiving party) if I were on the giving side of these things???
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Jalking
Amanda and I found out a few weeks ago that we would be going to Mustang Island (just off the coast from Corpus Christi) for a week long vacation at the beginning of July. So obviously, we felt the need to get our "bods" ready!
So we have been taking a few nights out of the week to go to a neighborhood park and "jalk" a few laps a night. "Jalk" meaning walk a bit then jog a bit.
Let me preface this by saying I am totally encouraged by wife and the effort that she has shown through this "training." But it has been a challenge for me because all I have ever done was run, run, run. I have been a part of athletics all my life and luckily it has never been a problem for me to just go out a run. Well this is a new world for me. My wife, as she says, "doesn't run."
But what I have found in these 20 minute outings is more important to me than any exercise I could do. We are actually able to "talk while we jalk." Something that you can't do alot of when you run. So this experience has been extremely beneficial to me and I am so glad we get the time to "jalk" together.
So we have been taking a few nights out of the week to go to a neighborhood park and "jalk" a few laps a night. "Jalk" meaning walk a bit then jog a bit.
Let me preface this by saying I am totally encouraged by wife and the effort that she has shown through this "training." But it has been a challenge for me because all I have ever done was run, run, run. I have been a part of athletics all my life and luckily it has never been a problem for me to just go out a run. Well this is a new world for me. My wife, as she says, "doesn't run."
But what I have found in these 20 minute outings is more important to me than any exercise I could do. We are actually able to "talk while we jalk." Something that you can't do alot of when you run. So this experience has been extremely beneficial to me and I am so glad we get the time to "jalk" together.
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Family Ties
I am sorry if you anticipated this blog being about Alex P. Keaton, Mallory Keaton, and the other members of the 1980's hit.
One of my greatest joys in life is being around the people that made me who I am today. I thank God for the mother and father who, for so long and still do today, hold me to a higher standard, a standard that God would hopefully be proud of. I will always cherish the relationship I have with my brother, one of my best friends. He has taught me so much about being a servant, one who loves God. My sister has taught be the joys of giving and happiness. What a wonderful surprise it was to the Wills family when Ashley became a part of this world.
There are so many extended family members that hold a special place in my heart. These are the people who, although we only get to see them sparingly throughout the years, have reminded me of the importance of sacrificing your own time and schedule to spend quality time with your lineage. I miss my grandparents who have passed. What a great example they set for me with there time on Earth. I am grateful for Leslie and Wilda Lancaster who taught me how to be thankful and to enjoy the simple things in life. I will never forget Eula Wills and the tremendous heart that her and Donald showed when they adopted my father and gave my family a chance to be. And to Lisa, a wonderful cousin, who is dearly missed. She was the oldest out of the cousins and was always looked up to. I will always remember your compassion and tenderness. Even though we feel that you missed out on a full life, we know that God is enjoying your company.
To my lovely wife: Thank you for teaching me so many things about Jesus, the model. I hadn't known, until I met Amanda, how giving a person can be. Hours upon hours of her time is spent giving notes and cards and gifts to those that are probably not even expecting anything . I will cherish the reminders of how to use self control when the Cardinals lose. (She must have inherited that from mom and pop.)
God is the Giver of Good Gifts!
One of my greatest joys in life is being around the people that made me who I am today. I thank God for the mother and father who, for so long and still do today, hold me to a higher standard, a standard that God would hopefully be proud of. I will always cherish the relationship I have with my brother, one of my best friends. He has taught me so much about being a servant, one who loves God. My sister has taught be the joys of giving and happiness. What a wonderful surprise it was to the Wills family when Ashley became a part of this world.
There are so many extended family members that hold a special place in my heart. These are the people who, although we only get to see them sparingly throughout the years, have reminded me of the importance of sacrificing your own time and schedule to spend quality time with your lineage. I miss my grandparents who have passed. What a great example they set for me with there time on Earth. I am grateful for Leslie and Wilda Lancaster who taught me how to be thankful and to enjoy the simple things in life. I will never forget Eula Wills and the tremendous heart that her and Donald showed when they adopted my father and gave my family a chance to be. And to Lisa, a wonderful cousin, who is dearly missed. She was the oldest out of the cousins and was always looked up to. I will always remember your compassion and tenderness. Even though we feel that you missed out on a full life, we know that God is enjoying your company.
To my lovely wife: Thank you for teaching me so many things about Jesus, the model. I hadn't known, until I met Amanda, how giving a person can be. Hours upon hours of her time is spent giving notes and cards and gifts to those that are probably not even expecting anything . I will cherish the reminders of how to use self control when the Cardinals lose. (She must have inherited that from mom and pop.)
God is the Giver of Good Gifts!
Golf
What a weird game!
I cannot get over the fact that I continuously pay outrageous amounts of money for four (maybe five) hours of fun per round. Not only that, but to become so frustrated with my inconsistencies of my game, that it challenges me to think about the way I act in certain situations. The only way that I have found to get better is to pay, I mean play more, whether it be in equipment or rounds of play.
I wonder what it is inside of me that keeps me going out there? Is it the competition? Is it nature and its' "green" beauty? Is it the tremendous social interaction I get with the people I go with? Or is it the drive inside of me to become better at something I am not so good at?
To me, all of the questions can be answered with a simple word..."YES".
I am one of the most competitive people I know. Is that bad? I don't think so, as long as I don't let my actions take over. I am not sure why, but something deep down wants the Cardinals to win all 162 games in a season, something there wishes I could beat my driving time to work by 30 seconds, something inside of me wants to win that continuous game of Nerts between Amanda and I. I feel that its healthy competition, whether it be with someone else or improving myself. It allows me to understand what is really important in life and to keep my actions under control.
I love being in nature, seeing the initial beauty that God created. Have you ever thought about how many blades of grass or trees are in this world? Silly question, but does that not, in a simple way, express the power of our God. Whenever I am out on the course and see that man has constructed such a beautiful layout of trees and cleanly cut grass, I can't help but think...Well, who created man? Who allows a man to know and do these types of actions?
When I golf, I would rather be with people than by myself. I always can expect great conversations when I spend time with Davie, David B., Terry, Lars, Chris, and others. I love the interaction and the "realness" that is exhibited when golfing with these guys. Not only pure frustration, but also pure joy. I love getting to talk about life, marriage, work, and of course the Word is never left out. One of my joys is to be with these servants of the Lord.
And of course it is the drive inside of me to be better at something. I love improving my game. (Slowly, but surely...) I love seeing progress, anyone does. But for me golf is an activity that can really test my patience. I don't think it would be too far of a stretch to say that God has allowed me to play this game to test my patience in not only golf, but in other areas of my life.
I cannot get over the fact that I continuously pay outrageous amounts of money for four (maybe five) hours of fun per round. Not only that, but to become so frustrated with my inconsistencies of my game, that it challenges me to think about the way I act in certain situations. The only way that I have found to get better is to pay, I mean play more, whether it be in equipment or rounds of play.
I wonder what it is inside of me that keeps me going out there? Is it the competition? Is it nature and its' "green" beauty? Is it the tremendous social interaction I get with the people I go with? Or is it the drive inside of me to become better at something I am not so good at?
To me, all of the questions can be answered with a simple word..."YES".
I am one of the most competitive people I know. Is that bad? I don't think so, as long as I don't let my actions take over. I am not sure why, but something deep down wants the Cardinals to win all 162 games in a season, something there wishes I could beat my driving time to work by 30 seconds, something inside of me wants to win that continuous game of Nerts between Amanda and I. I feel that its healthy competition, whether it be with someone else or improving myself. It allows me to understand what is really important in life and to keep my actions under control.
I love being in nature, seeing the initial beauty that God created. Have you ever thought about how many blades of grass or trees are in this world? Silly question, but does that not, in a simple way, express the power of our God. Whenever I am out on the course and see that man has constructed such a beautiful layout of trees and cleanly cut grass, I can't help but think...Well, who created man? Who allows a man to know and do these types of actions?
When I golf, I would rather be with people than by myself. I always can expect great conversations when I spend time with Davie, David B., Terry, Lars, Chris, and others. I love the interaction and the "realness" that is exhibited when golfing with these guys. Not only pure frustration, but also pure joy. I love getting to talk about life, marriage, work, and of course the Word is never left out. One of my joys is to be with these servants of the Lord.
And of course it is the drive inside of me to be better at something. I love improving my game. (Slowly, but surely...) I love seeing progress, anyone does. But for me golf is an activity that can really test my patience. I don't think it would be too far of a stretch to say that God has allowed me to play this game to test my patience in not only golf, but in other areas of my life.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
