As I lay here in bed thinking about how I have come accustomed to just now getting home late from a long day at work. (AKA a Friday Night High School Football game and all that it entails “adrenaline, emotions, bumps & bruises, ice, cleanup, etc”) I realize that this last season has been my favorite season of my WHOLE life thus far. The past 4 months since starting my new job have literally been utter bliss. If you aren’t friends with me on Facebook or haven’t de-friended me because of it then I get to share with you for the first time how much I love my new job.
The Lord has gone above and beyond all of my wants and desires for this job. I have been able to easily transition back into the medical field and catch up on everything that I may have missed over the past 3 years. I have 3 great bosses that have done nothing but support, encourage, and help me feel confident in my position. My Main boss in the clinic has been a great example of what a man of God looks like in the clinic. (When you overhear your boss talking to someone about the salvation message whether it be a personal friend or not all I see is an example that leads well.) My Athletic Training boss has been an amazing example and has lead in so many amazing ways but his patience that he has had by answering soooo many of my questions and nervous qualms throughout the past 4 months I will be forever grateful for. And last but not least I have the greatest Athletic Director anyone could ask for. He has been able to get me everything that I need/want and He is a former NFL player which in return makes for some great expectations, connections, and stories that can totally help an ATC out easily. He has also set a great example and precedent by praying for all of the injured athletes and has also had the athletes pray for each other when they are hurt. So needless to say I love my job and the people I work for!
The Coaches, Parents, and School have also been amazing. They have been supportive and grateful for me being there and as an Athletic Trainer in a high school setting that is your greatest battle. And I am so grateful to have had that battle won already! I know you may be thinking that I am exaggerating but I can honestly say I’m not. This is just truly how great my God is and how much He loves me! My favorite part of this new job though is getting to have Athletes again. As an Athletic Trainer when you can say “My Athletes” it just gives you a sense of accomplishment, pride, fulfillment, joy, and I’m sure my list can go on but you get my point. My favorite part has been getting to know “My Athletes” again and taking care of them has been an honor.
Throughout this season and taking care of “My Athletes” the Lord has shown me another reason why He created me. He created me to minister to young men. Growing up I always wanted to call out the best in every younger, same age, or older guy that I met. I didn’t know that I was “seeing the gold” in them I just knew he had potential and wanted to call it out in him whether he saw it or not. Can’t say I always knew how to do it the best way but I tired. I would always have heart to heart conversations with guys or end up ministering to young men over women and I didn’t know why it just happened. During the World Race I started to notice that I was more drawn to the all boy’s orphanages or the men’s ministries rather than other types of ministries. Even after the Race I went to an all boy’s correctional facility and it was one of my favorite ministry weekend’s ever. For a long time I thought there was something wrong with me and that I was doing something “bad” because I was a woman ministering to a guy but I knew inside of me that I wasn’t doing anything wrong and that The Lord was leading me to speak to them. Most cultures/societies believe that only men are allowed to minister to men and women minister to women. But I’ve Found A Loophole! Head Athletic Trainer!
Being a Head Athletic Trainer of a football team you get prime opportunity to minister to young men! This whole season has been rejuvenating. My Daddy God is so good. I have realized now more than ever why I was created. I was created for this! Taking care of people and praying for them is my heart’s cry but I also know I am called to minister to young men. I have had many opportunities to minister and speak life into these young men, take care of them, and pray for them. I was asked and had the honor of speaking to them during one of their Thursday morning Bible studies. I have had opportunities to speak to a couple of them about their relationship with Christ and speak life over them. And I have had some of my favorite conversations on the sideline talking about if God really talks to us, can we really hear His voice, why does He want to talk to me, He didn’t cause me to get hurt, why does He heal people, you can hear His voice? So many memories and so many great conversations have happened over the past 4 months and I am so grateful. All of these young men are intelligent, honorable, loyal, and dedicated. Getting to know them (and our female kicker) has truly been my favorite season in life thus far. I have grown to care for this team and they will always have a special place in my heart for being my first high school football team. But, more than anything, they are the team that taught me being a Head Athletic Trainer is my mission’s field.
