I”m about halfway through a book that many people might be surprised to see me reading — Coming Back Stronger by Drew Brees (the quarterback for the New Orleans Saints). My husband got it for Christmas and has glanced through it, but said he probably won’t read it until football season was over. Of course, that was right after the Saints beat our Falcons when we were nearing playoff time …
It’s been an interesting read, especially in terms of how Brees has fought back from a rotator cuff tear that many people assumed he’d never fully overcome. The story definitely is about his football career and how one thing has led to another, but he’s also open about being a Christian and what a big part it plays in his life. It weaves football and his personal life together all along the way, so it’s interesting to see how each area affects the other. He’s authentic about giving the credit for his successes and determination where it’s due: God.
When I finish it, I’m going to encourage our son to read it. He’ll love the inside look at football. I’m hoping he’ll also pick up on some good things related to living out your faith in real life, even when the world keeps knocking you down.
Here’s one of my favorite paragraphs so far:
Faith is a gift from God, but it’s also a responsibility. It’s not enough to have it. You’ve got to live it out, even when times are tough. One of my favorite quotes is, ‘Your actions speak so loudly I can’t hear what you’re saying.’ In other words, don’t just say it; be it. (Coming Back Stronger by Drew Brees with Chris Fabry, c 2010, pg 134)
How true that is (and to think I found it in a book about football, LOL)! Faith is a gift from God, but it doesn’t do us (or anyone else) any good if we don’t put it into practice. Faith has to be exercised and tried out every day so it can keep growing stronger and support us. Otherwise it will shrink and shrivel and might not count for much of anything when we need it most.
One of my favorite Bible verses is Hebrews 11:1: Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (ESV). That’s my goal for this week — to practice keeping my faith in God, no matter what happens along the way, no matter what I can or can’t see. How about you?
