God's Coaching #316

God's Coaching #316

Rachel Jennings really wanted to beat Duke University in field hockey. Sure, it would help Virginia’s seeding in the ACC tournament. But even more, she wanted to beat her sister Tara, a Duke midfielder. Rachel was undefeated when facing Tara and their other triplet, Erin, a midfielder at Princeton.

Yep, you read that right: three sisters—triplets—all playing field hockey at different Division I field-hockey schools. And yes, they had a serious case of sibling rivalry, at least on the field. They said it’s what drove them to be the best players they could be. The girls played together in high school, and all three were heavily recruited. Michigan State offered all of them full scholarships when they were just sophomores. But Rachel, Tara, and Erin wanted to go to different schools. They’d shared a room long enough.

Off the field, the Jennings sisters were good friends who kept in close touch. On the field, they pushed each other hard. For the record, Virginia beat Duke at the end of the 2010 regular season to keep Rachel’s unbeaten streak against her sisters alive.

What’s the Score?

Sibling rivalry can be a problem. It can tear up a relationship. But competition and shared goals can also drive us to be better. A sibling or friend who’s willing to push us in the right direction can make us the best we can be. That’s what the Bible means when it talks about iron sharpening iron.

We need each other. We’re stronger together. Sometimes there might be friction, so it’s important to make sure love is the foundation of our relationships. We can push each other to be our best through encouragement, but other times we may have to deliver a difficult message. Maybe we’ll have to tell a friend he or she is being selfish or needs to try harder when things get tough. A little friction doesn’t have to be a bad thing—it can also make us sharper.

On the Ball

Set a goal with a friend, and plan how to achieve it. Create a team. Earn a good grade. Win a contest. Read a book of the Bible. Come up with your own ideas.

Coach’s Comment

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. Proverbs 27:17