3 Things Are Required Carey Casey

“It’s a familiar passage to some, and whether or not you embrace a biblical faith, these are worth a closer look for each of us.”

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the NABC.

3 Things Are Required

by Carey Casey, CEO & President of Championship Fathering

We live in interesting times here in the year 2020 . There is great uncertainty about the future given the Corona virus, the chaos and disunity in politics and race relations, as well as fires, hurricanes and other disasters that threaten our sense of wellbeing . Maybe you’re doing your best to stay positive through it all . Even if that’s true, there are young people watching you and looking to you for confidence and security as they try to navigate life: your children and the players on your team, of course . As a role model for those young people, what is required of you? What do you want to communicate to them—and even more important, what qualities do you want to live out before them—that will convey stability, peace, and selfassurance? Lately I have been pondering three timeless fundamentals of life that come from the book of Micah in the Bible . When considering the question, “What is required of you?” his response was: “To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God . ” It’s a familiar passage to some, and whether or not you embrace a biblical faith, these are worth a closer look for each of us . Act justly . Many different people today are calling for “justice,” and there are numerous ways to define that word. But looking at the bigger picture, acting justly is about character and integrity—doing what is right even when no one else notices or posts a photo of it on social media . It’s treating everyone with dignity and respect, whether they are college presidents or restaurant servers . Coach, the greatest legacy you can leave for the future generations is not about money or material things or even winning championships, but about your values and the content of your character . That’s where your true greatness lies, and if you get that right, then the rest of it will fall in line . Love mercy . According to the prevalent thinking in today’s culture, most of us probably have good reasons to feel demeaned or disrespected if we look hard enough . When bad things happen, the knee-jerk response is to find someone else to blame . But dads and coaches with character are quick to extend grace and forgiveness to people . Whenever I feel disrespected, I ask myself: What would my dad say? When things didn’t go my way as a child, he would tell me, “Son, don’t lose your mind . Keep your poise . ” That thought stays with me to this day, and although I’m not perfect, that thought allows me to step back and see things from a different perspective . I think, Well, this lady is probably having a bad day, or, I wonder if this young man had a father around to school him up on how to treat people . With a little empathy for the people around me, it’s much more likely that I can respond to difficult situations with kindness and mercy . Walk humbly . For me, the secret to being humble is captured in a simple statement: “It’s not about me . ” That attitude is crucial as we seek to be better leaders and set a positive example for our children and the players who are watching us . We aren’t thinking about ourselves so much and we’re able to help those around us be all they can be . As fathers and as coaches, we are leaders, but that doesn’t mean we’re always right . Being humble means we really listen to others and seek to understand them; we don’t assume we always know what’s best . And when (not if) we mess up, we’re quick to admit our mistake and seek forgiveness . For any leader, there are few things stronger than humility . Coach, make sure the young people around you can see you acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly . They are forming opinions about life, claiming values, and starting patterns of behavior, and you can plant seeds of character and unity in them that will continue to bear fruit for many years .

Carey Casey is CEO, President, and the author of Championship Fathering. He has also authored the book Championship Grandfathering: How to Build a Winning Legacy and is the general editor of the book 21-Day Dad’s Challenge: Three Weeks to a Better Relationship with Your Kids. Carey and his wife Melanie live in Chicago. They are the parents of four children and have nine grandchildren. www.ChampionshipFathering.org