On the Bench
“I have learned to be content
whatever the circumstances.“
Philippians 4:11 (NIV)
My husband Bruce and two of our sons played football throughout high school. Bruce and ourr oldest son Robert also played football in college and chose careers as high school coaches. Between the two of them, they have a combined 56 years of coaching experience.
Whether as a player’s mom or as a coach’s wife, I’ve had a lot of experience watching athletes on the bench. But honestly, I’ve never known one of them who didn’t hope to eventually get off the bench and into the game at some point. Athletics at any level requires an enormous investment of time and resources for both players and parents. Why would anyone invest time, money, sweat, and tears and not want to get into the game?
The reality, however, is that only eleven players can enter the game at any one time. Everyone on the team will spend some time out of the game and on the bench. Some of that bench time is by necessity and some of it is by design. But being on the bench does not mean that these players are not on the team. Time on the bench can still be a time of preparation, learning, encouraging, and contributing to those who are actually in the game.
Last week Bruce and I watched the College Football Playoff (CFP) national championship game between the University of Georgia and Texas Christian University (TCU). One of the Georgia players, Nolan Smith (#4), served as an honorary captain because he had a season ending injury in the Georgia-Florida game. Throughout the game, the television cameras kept focusing on Nolan Smith as he roamed the Georgia sidelines, stood on the bench cheering the Georgia players on, or joined coach and player huddles to plan game strategy. Nolan Smith, a projected #1 2023 NFL draft pick, was an important contributor to Georgia’s overall team victory. He was sidelined, but still engaged and invested in the game. When Georgia won, Nolan Smith also won, even though he never came off the bench.
I’ve always wanted to be “in the game” when it comes to teaching God’s Word. Like many teachers, I teach because I want to learn and once I learn something, I can’t wait to share it with others. The same is true for my speaking and writing.
Truthfully, I hate being temporarily on the bench with breast cancer, but there are lessons to be learned in this season. Among them are humility, contentment, and gratitude. Bruce and I have been humbled by the tremendous outpouring of love, support, prayers, cards, and food that people have given over the last two weeks. Both my freezer and my heart are full!
One third grade Sunday School class in our church sent “Get Well, Mia” cards that brought both encouragement and much needed laughter. The girls had written Bible verses on their cards. The boys’ cards read, “War Eagle!”
Today we received confirmation from my doctor’s office that my lymph nodes and the margins were clear. The cancer that was removed with the lumpectomy was very small and is considered to be Stage 1. Once I recover from my surgery, I will follow up with 4-6 weeks of radiation, but no chemotherapy should be required.
During this recovery time I am doing better than I expected, but still tire easily. I am resting and recalibrating. I won’t be teaching my weekly Bible study, but I can:
gratefully accept help when offered
read books, old and new;
study God’s Word
prepare future teaching material
encourage other women, especially young moms
pray for others
write Bible Bits and thank you notes
count my blessings and
learn to be content.
Some of the Apostle Paul’s most important ministry occurred while he was imprisoned. I am sure he would have preferred his evangelism and church revitalization ministry to prison. But Paul used his bench season to write letters to churches (Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians) ; encourage and instruct a younger pastor (1 & 2 Timothy); help restore a broken relationship (Philemon); and share the gospel with governors, guards, jailers, and anyone else who would listen. Paul didn’t waste his suffering. Neither should I.
Please pray that I will steward my bench season well, follow Paul’s example, and learn to be content whatever the circumstances or the season.