Sometimes working with students in a school setting can be frustrating...or at least just plain hard work. The bell rings early every morning and class starts and papers have to be graded and it can be a grind. There are days when it would be easier to stay in bed. In the long run, though, there are many moments that are to be treasured. And the only way to get to those is to live together through the grinding of the days.
Then, every afternoon when the school day ends, some of the students head to their sports' lockers and enter into the second part of the day. It is time to play. And the magical moments are multiplied.
One of those moments has been unfolding on the softball field of our school. It began with the winter middle school season. Our high school coach also coaches middle school. She had three assistants this year, which is a bit unusual and very wonderful. Assistant number one just graduated from our high school last year. She was the softball MVP, captain, team leader...and now she is the assistant coach. And she does an amazing job. She is poised and strong with the kids; she coaches and loves them well. The other two assistants are current high school students who both play varsity softball. So, Coach McGrath has three of her own players assisting her. They know the system, they believe, they are building a softball program...and it is a wonderful thing to watch.
These young ladies are sharing life, growing up, and helping each other. They are also improving on the field and growing in confidence. They are being led by a coach who is also growing in confidence as she mentors and teaches and pushes and grows her coaching staff and her softball team. All of the hard work is paying off in sweet ways. And I am blessed to see it...and so proud of these young ladies.
Click here to download the latest Flash player.
Click here to bypass the detection.