Friendships To Last a Lifetime

Related Scripture:

"Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another."

Proverbs 27:17

I accepted a position as Assistant Executive Director for the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) after serving for 11 years as a teacher, coach, and school administrator in Robertson County, Tennessee. The only officiating experience I had at the time dated back to my college days, when I filled in for a no-show at an intramural flag football game at the University of Tennessee at Martin, where I served as a sports coordinator for the Campus Recreation department.  I was terrible….and I will never forget an inadvertent whistle that I blew that negated a pick six….let’s just say the kiddos weren’t happy with me!  As I've said many times before, I knew less about the officiating aspects of my job description when I joined TSSAA than about any other area for which I was given responsibility.

That being said, the relationships I've been able to forge with the officiating community in the sports I have overseen have been some of the most rewarding in both my professional and personal life.  It is easy to see—it doesn't take much time to discover—that the friendships forged in the world of officiating are some of the strongest you will find. This is part of the reason why we see individuals who have served for over 50 and even 60 years in their respective sports.  Friendships are one of the greatest gifts God has given us. When things get tough, always remember the friendships you've forged in this officiating family. And if you're new to this world, please know that you will have the opportunity to develop friendships that last a lifetime!

Thank you for your service, and may God continue to bless you with friendships that will last a lifetime!

Questions to Ponder:

What relationships are you sharpening that will have an eternal impact?

Are you nurturing the most important relationship in your life, with Jesus as your personal Savior?

Mark Reeves - Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA)