Dads, 

I used to hate to stretch, during team calisthenics I was the one just acting like I was stretching. Especially when it had to do with mid section core. Sit-ups. Not sure that I hate any other exercise more than doing sit ups.

Even in the weight room I dreaded the sit up station. I flourished at the push ups but avoided my core. 

DADs, even today I do all other stretches or workouts before I work my core! 

Why? Two reasons. 

Its hurts! And it doesn’t always show immediate results! 

Isn’t that what we all want, little pain and immediate results?

DADs, why is it the same sometimes in our spiritual walk? 

Even when we know it will make us a better we sometimes choose the easier path?

In the physical sense we know what's good for us, working on our core will make us stronger, faster, and better for our team and teammates, but we get distracted.

The same holds true now in our adult roles as husband and DAD. We can be detoured and shy away from church, Bible study, and prayer. All things that would only strengthen our families.

As a coach, I would ask my players; Do your individual goals outweigh your team or are your team goals more important than your personal goals?

As your brother in Christ and a Minister of Men, I would in regards to your spirtual growth ask, does what matters least serve as an obstacle for what matters most?

You see football is a team sport. When you work on your core you are working on your team. As long as your core values includes putting the team before your individual goals.

As the leader of your family, the DAD, WE can NEVER place outside priorities ahead of our “team”, our most precious gifts, our families! 

That means working on our spiritual Core daily!

As the coach, do you know the players I most admire? The ones that come to work every day. Early to practice. Last off the field. First to volunteer to run scout team. Always have their helmet on during the game but at the same time rarely plays. Wow. The difference in most games, when it comes down to the best teams, are not always the best players, but the strength of the CORE players. If our core players better prepared than theirs it can influence the result. The core becomes difference. 

DADs, the difference in your family is YOU! 

The outside world wants to celebrate the starters. The one that scores the winning TD. Believe me, as a coach I loved those too. They made me a great coach at times. 

But when one of those players is also a CORE player, humble and acknowledges that his success is based on the team, thats special. 

As DADs we may not look like the superstars to others, often not even to our own families, but we must be consistent and unwavering in working on our spiritual core!

Hebrews 10:24-25: 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

C- compassion for all

O- pen to coaching

R- relentless to be better

E - levates those around him

Be the DADtoday and everyday! Suit Up! Put on your Core!

DADs…do not stand on the sidelines of life…get off the bench…

“get in the game”…Today is game day…and so is every day…

God gives you!

So…C’mon men…Suit Up!

Dr. Jeff Springer