Prayers to share with players

Oriole Power
Member

Posts: 67

Prayers to share with players Nov 5, 2007 9:10:33 GMT

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Post by Oriole Power on Nov 5, 2007 9:10:33 GMT

Friday night we were having our pregame meeting before our Level 3 playoff game. When I realized our starting senior tackle wasn't there. We had a couple of kids make some calls and within minutes we knew he was in a serious accident. We went on with our meeting and the entire team could hear the medical helicopter come in.

The game went on. I learned after I called our first offensive play that he didn't make it. The crowd knew and the kids knew in their hearts he didn't make it. I told the team after our loss that their friend and teammate died. It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do and I pray none of you will ever have to something like this.

I am grieving and dealing with the loss of a life but I'm having a tough time with everyone else looking for me to lead them through it. I realize as a head coach we are supposed to be an example and help everyone else but I truely cared for this player as a son.

What I'm asking for your help with is if anyone has a prayer or a saying or something I can give the players to read and hold on to in order to help them grieve?

Any suggestions?

Excellent Choice.
"You can't expect different results unless you do something different."

TIGER ONE
Senior Member

Posts: 6,423

Prayers to share with players Nov 5, 2007 10:41:00 GMT

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Post by TIGER ONE on Nov 5, 2007 10:41:00 GMT

ORIOLE POWER,

Another player at the middle school level died of brain injuries suffered in a game two weeks ago, this past week. Now this tragedy occurs. Please accept our sincere condolences and know that we feel your pain at the loss of one of your athletes. Please accept this humble prayer.

Our kind heavenly Father, please hear us as we cry out at the loss of this young man whom you have called home at such a tender age. We ask that you would issue forth that peace that passeth all understanding and eminates only from your throne of grace, to all those young players and coaches and family members and friends who are left behind to mourn his loss. Please let those who remain, know in their hearts that God has a plan for all of our lives and though we do not understand it at times, it is the ultimate plan that will be fulfilled. Your word tells us, dear Lord, that all things work together for good of them that love the Lord and are the called according to His purpose. I beseech you dear God, to ease the suffering minds of those who shared the practice field on a daily basis with the departed, and the excitement of the competition on game night that he loved so much. Let them continue on, in faith believing, that their team mate is now with you and will be forever more. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord! In Jesus name we pray, Amen and Amen.

Coach, you are right, there are those who look for you for guidence in these dark hours. I sincerely hope you are a Christian and will seek God's help in giving you the right words to say and the example to be shown. He will sustain you like nothing else this world has to offer.

Rev.J.C.(coach) Easton

J.C. EASTON HEAD COACH GA TIGERS FOOTBALL PROFESSIONAL MINOR LEAGUE

Oriole Power Member Posts: 67	Prayers to share with players Nov 5, 2007 10:51:33 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by Oriole Power on Nov 5, 2007 10:51:33 GMT Thanks for your response. I am a Christian and led our team, school, community and all that were there after the game in a prayer. I will share your prayer with the team before we go to the visitation tonight.
	Excellent Choice. "You can't expect different results unless you do something different."

TIGER ONE
Senior Member

Posts: 6,423

Prayers to share with players Nov 5, 2007 13:04:03 GMT

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Post by TIGER ONE on Nov 5, 2007 13:04:03 GMT

ORIOLE POWER,

Sincerely glad to hear of your Christian witness to those after the game, as shown by your prayer. We will pray without ceasing for you to be filled with courage and fortitude for you to lead your team.

Rev.J.C.(coach) Easton

J.C. EASTON HEAD COACH GA TIGERS FOOTBALL PROFESSIONAL MINOR LEAGUE

Oneback
Senior Member

EMAIL: billmountjoy@yahoo.com

Posts: 6,223

Prayers to share with players Nov 5, 2007 15:05:35 GMT

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Post by Oneback on Nov 5, 2007 15:05:35 GMT

Oriole Power: Many years ago - Coach Ralph Cummings (Clintwood HS - Clintwood, Va) lost a player in-season. He wrote a paper about how he dealt with the situation, & lectured it at the Virginia HS League Clinic that next Summer. Praying that nobody would ever have to use the paper - he passed it out none the same.

If you would like a copy of that paper - email me at: billmountjoy@yahoo.com & I will forward it!

My prayers are with you, & the family of the young man.

Bill Mountjoy

Lou Cella Senior Member Posts: 1,486	Prayers to share with players Nov 5, 2007 15:20:57 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by Lou Cella on Nov 5, 2007 15:20:57 GMT Coach, my prayers are with you, your program, and the young man and his family. These tragedies are occurring far too often lately!
	Lou Cella Head Varsity Football Coach Greater Nanticoke Area High School (PA)

iggy
Junior Member

Posts: 5

Prayers to share with players Nov 15, 2007 21:07:39 GMT

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Post by iggy on Nov 15, 2007 21:07:39 GMT

Coach,
I went through something similar back in 2001. This helped me then.

I'M FREE

Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free

I'm following the path God laid for me.

I took His hand when I heard him call;

I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day,

To laugh, to love, to work or play.

Tasks left undone must stay that way;

I found that place at the close of day.

If my parting has left a void,

Then fill it with remembered joy.

A friendship shared a laugh, a kiss;

Ah yes, these things, I too will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow

I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.

My life's been full, I savored much;

Good friends, good times, a loved ones touch.

Perhaps my time seems all to brief;

Don't lengthen it now with undue grief.

Lift up your heart and share with me,

God wanted me now, He set me free.

Oneback Senior Member EMAIL: billmountjoy@yahoo.com Posts: 6,223	Prayers to share with players Nov 16, 2007 6:20:39 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by Oneback on Nov 16, 2007 6:20:39 GMT Excellent!
	Bill Mountjoy

TIGER ONE Senior Member Posts: 6,423	Prayers to share with players Nov 16, 2007 10:16:56 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by TIGER ONE on Nov 16, 2007 10:16:56 GMT THAT CERTAINLY IS VERY APROPOS!!! WONDERFUL TRUE WORDS!!! Coach Easton-TIGER ONE
	J.C. EASTON<BR>HEAD COACH<BR>GA TIGERS FOOTBALL<BR>PROFESSIONAL MINOR LEAGUE

TIGER ONE
Senior Member

Posts: 6,423

Prayers to share with players Nov 27, 2007 9:43:17 GMT

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Post by TIGER ONE on Nov 27, 2007 9:43:17 GMT

ORIOLE POWER:

Certainly hope the shock of losing your player has begun to ease somewhat, although it will remain with you to a certain degree always. I have continued to pray for you, the team, the family in this trying time and know that many others have as well. Please know that we will continue to do so.

Coach Easton-TIGER ONE

J.C. EASTON HEAD COACH GA TIGERS FOOTBALL PROFESSIONAL MINOR LEAGUE

Oriole Power
Member

Posts: 67

Prayers to share with players Nov 29, 2007 7:31:15 GMT

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Post by Oriole Power on Nov 29, 2007 7:31:15 GMT

Thank you, everyone, for all of your kind words and support. We had our end of the year awards banquet last night. Since the accident I have shared all of the prayers and comments from the board with the team and family. As I told the players it will get better with time. It will always be a sad memory but it will get better.

At the visitation and funeral it was incredible to see the support from all of the teams we play and teams from around our state. Every team in our conference had players and/or coaches attend one of the two and show their support. We have received emails, cards, letters, money for a memorial, and much, much more. The support was truely amazing. When speaking to numerous other head coaches from the area they all mentioned how much it impacted their team as well. I don't know how anyone can get through something like this without strong faith.

Excellent Choice.
"You can't expect different results unless you do something different."

TIGER ONE
Senior Member

Posts: 6,423

Prayers to share with players Nov 29, 2007 10:27:36 GMT

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Post by TIGER ONE on Nov 29, 2007 10:27:36 GMT

ORIOLE POWER,

SO GLAD TO HEAR OF THE TREMENDOUS SUPPORT Y'ALL RECEIVED FROM YOUR PEERS AROUND THE LEAGUE! PEOPLE ARE STILL GOOD, SEEMS LIKE ALL WE HEAR ABOUT ARE THE BAD ONES.

My mother taught me when I was a small child that "every cloud has a silver lining if we but learn to look for it". The silver lining in this instance is always so hard to locate sometimes, but it is always there.

As a minister with 30 years experience, I discovered that people who have been unreachable as far as spititual growth was concerned previously, become very interested in spititual matters where death is involved as it has a way of reminding us all of our own mortality.

My reason for saying this is to offer the suggestion that maybe you have knowledge of team members, staff, etc. that fall into this catagory and can be helped by your Christian witness on a personal basis.
Be bold in the Lord and let all involved see that your faith is strong. That is the best witness of all, not just talking the talk, but walking the walk as well. If you can reach just one such person, the silver lining becomes self evident.

I certainly agree 100% with your statement that without a strong faith in God, how does one ever make it through a trying time like this?

Rev. J.C.(coach)Easton

J.C. EASTON HEAD COACH GA TIGERS FOOTBALL PROFESSIONAL MINOR LEAGUE

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Post by Oriole Power on Nov 5, 2007 9:10:33 GMT

Post by TIGER ONE on Nov 5, 2007 10:41:00 GMT

Post by Oriole Power on Nov 5, 2007 10:51:33 GMT

Post by TIGER ONE on Nov 5, 2007 13:04:03 GMT

Post by Oneback on Nov 5, 2007 15:05:35 GMT

Post by Lou Cella on Nov 5, 2007 15:20:57 GMT

Post by iggy on Nov 15, 2007 21:07:39 GMT

Post by Oneback on Nov 16, 2007 6:20:39 GMT

Post by TIGER ONE on Nov 16, 2007 10:16:56 GMT

Post by TIGER ONE on Nov 27, 2007 9:43:17 GMT

Post by Oriole Power on Nov 29, 2007 7:31:15 GMT

Post by TIGER ONE on Nov 29, 2007 10:27:36 GMT

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