Week 29 - To My “Phil Jackson”

To My “Phil Jackson”

So, I grew up in Chicago during the Michael Jordan and Chicago Bulls reign. During that that time I grew to admire the talent of the team, but even moreso the leadership of the coach, Phil Jackson. As I’ve watched him with the Lakers (while not rooting for them by ANY stretch of the imagination), I have seen the same leadership. I’m reminded that as the king goes, so goes the nation. We have seen companies, churches, nations, teams, etc. with great potential, only to fall by the wayside because the leadership, well, sucked. Families are the same way.

Over the last two months Reggie and I have been in a childbirth class that teaches husband-coached childbirth. In the class, the husband is called the “coach” and I have jokingly started calling him “Phil Jackson”. Phil leads his teams well, has high expectations, and seems to rarely “lose it”. Well, Reggie is better :D

Over the last two weeks, I have seen my sweetie in action and I am grateful for the man that he is. I awakened in a panic one morning at 4:30 am because I was having a false labor contraction. He calmly turned over, reminded me that those are Braxton-Hicks, and took me for a walk around the block, at 4:40 am, because, as he says “That’s what they said to do in the class.” Hah, I know the literature. He practiced it.

During the itching and especially with the fibroid ordeal, he has been an amazing coach. Praying over me, reminding me to trust God with the baby, cooking and cleaning after he determined that bed rest would be best while I heal. I have learned a lot about servant-leadership by watching him this week. Exhausted, yet patient. Long days at work, yet willing to come home to serve me, and insistent that I allow him to. When I lamented about not being able to do much, he rebuked me, reminding me that such thoughts were pride, and that he committed to doing this when we married (“in sickness and in health, remember?”, he says).

So, I am grateful. And, I have determined to give honor to whom honor is due, when it is due. I have been blessed with a wonderful gift. Unearned and often taken for granted. Nagged (waaay to often) and often underappreciated. Allow me to take this time to say thank you to a man who in my eyes is a much better “coach” than Phil will ever be. I love you, boo ;)

Humbled by God’s grace,

Kim