No More "I" & "Me"

I remember when my wife and I were expecting our seventh amazing child—a gift we truly saw as a blessing from God. During that time, I often heard one of two reactions. The most common was something like, “How many kids are you going to have?” It was usually asked with surprise or even concern. But every once in a while, I’d get a different response—like the time another coach told me how cool it was that we didn’t stop at two or three kids like most people do. That encouragement really stuck with me.

Looking back, I realize that season of life marked a turning point in my faith. I had made the decision to stop just going through the motions and to take my walk with God seriously. Part of that change meant trying to remove the word “I” from my vocabulary. That doesn’t mean I suddenly became selfless overnight—selfishness is something we all struggle with—but I began striving to live by the principle of B3rd: God first, others second, myself third.

What I discovered in that time was how freeing it is to let go of my own agenda and trust God with the direction of my life. The more I tried to control things, the more tangled and stressful everything became. But when I gave God full control, things started to align in ways I couldn’t have planned. It didn’t make life easier, but it gave life a deeper sense of peace and purpose.

I saw that same principle play out in the world of sports, too. Whether coaching, parenting, or playing, I noticed that teams thrived when people set aside the “I” and “Me.” Players who looked out for their teammates had more fun. Coaches who truly served the kids found joy in their role. And the parents who cheered just as hard for someone else’s child as they did for their own—those were the ones who created the kind of environment everyone wanted to be part of.

If I could go back and encourage anyone walking a similar road, I’d say this: Try removing “I” and “Me” from the center of your life. Wake up each day with the mindset of living for God and for others. That mindset won’t just change your perspective—it will fill you with a kind of purpose and contentment that can’t be bought.