“Therefore as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourself with

compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

– Colossians 3:12

Influence. As coaches, we have it. The critical question that each of us must answer is, “How are we using it?” Recently I ran across a article titled, “Encouraging Coaches” which recognized several coaches who have had a lasting influence on the athletes they serve. In one of these stories, Darryll Canida said his basketball coach, Mark Campbell changed his life. Canida left an abusive father and Coach Campbell did his best to guide him during that difficult time. Canida said, “Coach Campbell taught me more than the game of basketball, he taught me about the game of life.” Coach Campbell always made time for Canida and others on the team, even though he had a wife and four children of his own. “He took me to church, college basketball games, dinners with his family, and loved me when I didn’t feel lovable.”

Coach Campbell has coached over thirty years and won state tournaments and championships, but the opportunity to be a positive role model and help steer young people in the right direction is what means the most to him. “You never know what impact you have at the time”, said Campbell. Darryll Canida went on to get a master’s degree and is now a middle school coach. “I am the man I am today because God put Coach Campbell in my life.” Our challenge as coaches is to clothe ourselves with the compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience modeled by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit can and will use us to change lives too!

Heavenly Father, thank you for the positive influencers you have put in my life. It is not by chance that you have now put me in the position to be an influencer. Lord, teach me compassion, humility, gentleness and patience, so that I too can change lives for the better. Amen.