Hopefully I don’t cry too much writing this blog.
I had no idea what squad coaches were when I got to training camp, nor did I know I would be blessed with the best squad coaches for a whole year.
Squad coaches are apart of the leadership team along with a squad mentor and squad leaders. They read our check ins, come to some debriefs, and invest in our lives for 11 months straight.
Keith and Karen are different. Keith and Karen are special. They are not just our coaches. They didn’t just do the required things asked of them. Keith and Karen went above and beyond with our squad. We as M Squad adopted them as our parents for the year as they adopted us as their kids.
Fun fact, we were their first squad so they were quite nervous coming into a role such as this. I can’t imagine all of the feels these two were feeling, I mean gosh what an intense job to step into 40 people’s lives for 11 months and give it their everything with love and mentorship and everything that came along with the checklist.
Thats just the thing though, Keith and Karen didn’t treat squad coaching as just a job. It became who they were, the two of them molded into the armor of God and literally crushed the so called title “squad coaching.”
My favorite part about seeing Keith and Karen is when debriefs roll around and one on one sheets come out. I always jump the gun with a pen and sign up to meet with both of them. 30 minutes isn’t enough time. The wisdom that flows out of the two of them is a gift from our Father.
Keith and Karen have made themselves available to each one of us outside the normal “work hours” if you will. Keith and Karen aren’t just 9-5, “only see you at debrief” coaches. They give sacrifice of time.
Not only do they show us an amazing example of mentors, but Keith and Karen represent an incredible example of a godly couple. There isn’t one area of life that these two beautiful people don’t demonstrate God or have him at the center.
I asked our squad to pick one word that comes to mind when they think of Keith and Karen.
Silly
Whole
Family
United
Wise
Kingdom
Inspirational
Love
Authenticity
Selfless
Fearless
Grace Filled
Those are just a few words, the list could continue on much longer. One of the words that kept being repeated from almost everyone was the word love. Keith are Karen, if you are reading this, thank you for loving well. Just as Christ commands us to, you two have kept a consistent love in every day these past months.
We’ve come to you crying, broken, confused, wanting to go home, whatever it was, whatever emotional rollercoaster we were on, your arms have always remained open. Judgement through the flesh eyes is no where in your vocabulary or character traits. You both have had hard conversations with us as individuals and as a squad, you weren’t scared of us or the baggage we brought onto the field. You’ve never feared our sin. Your words, the tongue that the Lord has given you, has always encouraged, never the other way around.
Dear V Squad, M squad here. You have gained two major blessings from our heavenly Father. You have gained two treasures of the highest of high. God has brought Keith and Karen into your squad for a purpose. I can speak on behalf of our whole squad that this goodbye we are getting ready to embark on in less then 24 hours will be one of the most difficult goodbyes of our whole race. Keith and Karen have changed our race for the better. We are passing the torch to you V Squad, we are handing over our M Squad mom and dad to you. Nurture them as they will you, give them grace as they will you, and above all else love as they will love you.
Keith and Karen, these words aren’t simply enough. I could probably write 10 more blogs about you both and all that you’ve done for our M Squad family. You are loved and seen in all of your days. We, each one of us, love you guys so much and the life you brought into our squad will leave a legacy. And just like any cheesy line to end a sappy post, heres one, its not goodbye, just see you later.
So… on that note M Squad will see you later.
