A Little Note Changes Everything

A few years ago the wife of our head coach suggested that we all write notes to our husband's position players. When we began, we had no idea the impact that we would be having on the lives of those boys. We also didn't realize the impact it would have on us as well. Several of the boys had told me thank you but I thought they were just being polite.  Turns out it goes beyond the polite thank you.They really do care about the note and what is said in each one of them.

When others hear that I write notes to the boys the first question I get is, "What do you say?"  Usually I say what's on my heart.  I pray for these players every day and I can always find a Bible verse or quote that's perfect for the week. I know what's going on in their lives and their joys and frustrations on and off  the field because I hear from my coach about them.  They come to "family dinner" at our house. I follow them on Twitter.(I learn a lot about them on Twitter.)  Then I sit down and write their note.  The contents are between me and each player.  My coach doesn't read them.He just delivers them to their locker each week. He says that's my personal gift to each of his players.

We have several single coaches on our staff so each year the wives pick one of those coaches and write notes to his players as well as the players of our husband.  Sometimes these notes are a little more difficult to write as I don't know those boys as well, but trust me when I say those notes are just as powerful as the ones to "my boys."

You may be wondering how I know how powerful these notes are to them. I know through conversations with them and sometimes even with their parents.  Teenage boys aren't always the best at sharing with their parents but I'm amazed at how many actually take the notes home and show them to their moms. One mom asked to meet me at the football game one night.  She wanted to hug me and tell me thank you for writing her son.  She told me "he's not a starter and may not even see the field, but the note made him feel that someone cared about him and was cheering for him."  Another mom told be about how she was cleaning her son's room and when she picked up his Bible several of the notes fell out. She told me he kept my notes and reread them when he needed some encouragement. At the doctor's office this week the receptionist told me I had written her son two years ago and that when he left for college he made sure those notes were kept in a safe place.She thanked me for taking the time to write him and told me that I had an impact on his life.

Last year was a difficult year for our team and the notes took on an even greater meaning for me and my boys.  They were part therapy, part encouragement, and in many ways I think they held us together as we were walking through something as a team and a family that many teams never have to face.  When one of the boys stopped me in the hall of the field house hugged me tight and said,  "Please don't stop with the notes.They are what are getting me though sometimes." I realized right then I could never stop with the notes. I knew right then the Lord as working through me with those notes and that they were making an impact for Him.

These stories are here because I took half an hour each week and wrote a small note of encouragement. I had no idea they actually kept the notes. I thought they read them and then tossed them aside, but through the years I've learned that's not the case.  Those notes are kept and cherished.  Just like I cherish each of those players.

The power of the written word is amazing.  I think note writing and hand written notes are a dying art, but I also think that's what makes the note more valuable. Some weeks my notes are longer than others. Some weeks the notes are all very similar in nature. But, each week I try to send a note or at least every other week.  I'm by no means perfect in this and well some times you just have to punt. Last week was crazy and all the boys got was a Tweet but I figured a Tweet was better than nothing.  They all agreed. They knew I was cheering for them and they knew I was there to encourage them.

As the wife of a coach, I am there to be that encouragement. I'm there to be that quiet voice to come alongside my coach and remind those young men it's not all about football. It's letting them know that we love them and we want to see them succeed and become that man the Lord wants them to become.My coach gets to do that at every practice and every game. I get to do that through my notes.So I encourage you to take up note writing and see how your world changes.

Cheering you on,
Laurel