When I was in second grade, we were asked to write down what we wanted to be when we grew up. The first thing on my list was a professional athlete. As the youngest of three boys, I played and loved every sport and grew dominant in my own age group as I was driven to keep up with my older brothers.
At ten years old, a coach who was watching my soccer game cast this vision to my mom on the sidelines: that I wouldn’t just be an athlete who played soccer but a soccer player who was also an athlete. That phrase has shaped how I play the game as I’ve weaponized the skills from other sports to sharpen my edge as a soccer player and a competitor.
The affirmation of my talent came at 14, when I was first involved with the youth national team system. Making the under-14 national team was the final push I needed to pursue soccer wholeheartedly and give myself the best chance of turning my second-grade dream into a reality.
At that time, I didn’t fully recognize that my athletic abilities–and the opportunities they brought– were gifts from God meant to be used for His purposes.
He has uniquely gifted you to work for His glory here on earth, too.
As my family has grown and I’ve stepped into the role of husband and father, my gratitude for this job has grown. Now, I am deeply thankful for my experiences and the dreams that I’ve accomplished. I see how the success that God has allowed in my soccer career is a blessing to more than just me, but to my wife and children as well. I can see the heart of the Giver revealed in my gift too–the heart of a Father who challenges us to grow, shapes us through adversity, and lavishly blesses us with more than we could ask for or imagine.
Through my playing career, I’ve come to recognize that God has given me gifts that extend beyond athletics. He has blessed me with the ability to lead, teach, and mentor with empathy and acceptance.
I grew up watching my father lead with a Christ-like grace and compassion for others. As I was entrusted with the role of captain on many of the teams I played for, I strived to model that same empathy I’d seen in my father. The more I’ve grown in my leadership, the more I’ve realized that I am not measured in what I accomplish, but in how I love and care for the people I shepherd.
Every good team is marked by unity toward a common purpose. The ability to bring people together and inspire them towards a common goal—this is a gift from God. I’ve been blessed to see the evidence of this gift throughout my life, as I’ve pulled people together with acceptance, whether in a team setting, a small group setting, or even in my own family. My highest calling as a leader is for people to know that they are seen and loved by me and that they are seen and loved by God.
Challenge
Take some time to reflect on how God has uniquely gifted you.
How do your gifts reveal the heart of the Father?
How can you steward your gifts well to: 1. Honor God and 2. Love and serve the people around you?
← Knowing the Giver | Kicking Out Complacency: Stepping Into Abundant Life →