I just had a moment of deep gratitude. Just now. The kind of gratitude that brings you to your knees and choke back tears.
This week, my former colleagues are all gathered for an annual conference that will inspire THOUSANDS to be better leaders and fight for the hearts of the next generation. I love seeing their posts..... it brings so much joy to my heart that they do what they do.
This organization was truly like family to me for 7 years. And the conference never disappointed. We all left completely wrung out and yet filled up and inspired to make a difference.
But one of my deepest regrets as a parent was that I missed my son's last wrestling tournament -- Districts. Where he became the division champion for his JV weight class.
Because I was working....at this conference.
Instead of crying mama tears as they placed that medal around his neck, I got a photo texted to me.
I didn't know it at the time it would be the last time he would ever wrestle. And let me tell you, watching him wrestle was like watching a game of masterful chess. It was incredible.
Instead of future tournaments, we would spend future years fighting for his heart and happiness as he battled depression and anxiety.
Missing the "last" changed me. I got crystal clear on a vision to create a life I LOVE and have complete control over being present with the ones I love the most.
Freedom isn't about all the "things" you can buy....It's the ability to determine the quantity and quality of TIME you spend with the people you love the most.
Fast forward several years later of working hard with this coach opportunity, I found myself packing and preparing to cheer my 🍑off for my youngest son's water polo state tournament.
And it hit me like a ton of bricks right here with worship music playing in my house while I packed my overnight bag for the trip to Austin: I would have been at the same conference -- working -- if I had never started this coaching thing on the side.
Even though he was a Junior, little did we know it would be his last run at State.
We fully expected his Senior Year to be a repeat of all the excitement leading up to State again.
Except his Senior year was 2020. Covid.
We never got another chance. If I hadn't worked to create the life of freedom to be present, I would have missed it again.
That's the thing about "lasts" with your kiddos.... you never know it is the last until it really is.
