Tom Landry was coach of the Dallas Cowboys from 1960 – 1988. I was born in 1961 and grew up in Texas. How could I not be a fan?
On February 12, 2000, Mrs. Sweetie and I were on a quick Valentines getaway to New Orleans. We got off the plane and were walking through the airport when we heard that Coach Landry had died. The fact that I remember where I was when I heard that he died (something I can’t say about more than a handful of people) is an indication of his impact.
This will be my final installment in the life lessons from football series. I couldn’t wrap it up without talking specifically about the Coach I have referenced in several of these posts. In the game of life, we win by listening to our Coach, doing what He says, loving like He loves, bringing His influence into every aspect of our lives, and demonstrating His character in our actions, attitudes, and words. He is not only our Coach. He is our King.
I want to wrap this series with three quotes from a great man who happened to be a great football coach. I’ll follow each of those with a quote from the Coach he also followed—Coach Jesus.
Coach Landry said, “Leadership is getting someone to do what they don’t want to do, to achieve what they want to achieve.”
Coach Jesus says, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” (Matthew 16:24-25)
Coach Landry said, “I don’t believe in team motivation. I believe in getting a team prepared so it knows it will have the necessary confidence when it steps on the field and be prepared to play a good game.”
Coach Jesus says, “All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:27-29, emphasis mine)
Coach Landry said, “Today, you have 100% of your life left.”
Coach Jesus says, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” (John 8:12)
We set ourselves up for failure if we: (1) Don’t think we need coaching; (2) Think the instructions of the Coach are optional; (3) Don’t believe the Coach really has our best interests in mind.
Whether you believe it our not, your life matters to Coach Jesus. I’m not kidding.
