Why I decided to start writing...

Like most American families, the Eads’ schedule was, and is, full.  We had sent our son away to college and our daughter was beginning her freshman year at Hoover High School.  Our son was dealing with the normal emotions of being a young college student and football player.  He had battled through the usual homesickness and was working daily, through prayer, to determine the path God would have for his life.  There would be several unexpected challenges that would test our relationship and certainly put our faith to a test.  Many of these daily writings come from the emotions and thoughts I was dealing with on a regular basis inside my head.  I will always feel that the daily writings to my family allowed my son and me to open up emotionally with each other.  We have discussed many topics that I could never find the words to discuss before. 

Our youngest, my beautiful daughter Sydney Love, began her first year of high school.  She would begin the year as a ninth grade cheerleader but otherwise normal teenage girl, with one exception.  I would begin my eighth year as a varsity football coach at HER school in the football crazed south.  I was excited about having my daughter in the same building with me and being able to watch her grow through her high school years. She has learned to avoid the daily drama of teenage life and, although I have not figured out a teenage girl’s emotions, I have been amazed at her level of inner strength.  She is becoming as equally beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside.

Like most men, I have a hard exterior, and struggle to say the words that are so often in my heart and mind.  As football season, the busiest time of the year, grew closer I began to struggle with the amount of time away from my children that my job demands.  My wife has always done a wonderful job of supporting our family in my absence, but I had begun to worry about my jobs' impact on my family.  My children had always been happy and enjoyed my profession, but I had begun to doubt its importance.  I also found myself missing the young man that had been a constant companion and buddy for so many years.  My son had been the ball boy for my football teams and we had spent the last three years coaching and playing on the same team.  We had coached and played in three consecutive state championship games but now I was coaching the game I love, alone.

My wife, Jamie, and I have been together almost every day since the spring of 1989.  We met in college, graduated, married and started our careers and family.  Jamie has been my faithful wife and best friend since 1992 and a devoted mother.  As we entered this new stage of life, we found ourselves on opposite sides of minor issues concerning our children.  Throughout this year I had to move out of my shell and open up to the beautiful lady who I had hidden my heart from for many years.

For many years as a football coach I had left my home early in the morning before my family was awake.  I would spend my day teaching classes, practicing with my team, and meeting with coaches until late into the evening.  Many nights I would arrive back home after a long day to find our home completely dark with everyone asleep.  Most of those nights consisted of waking them for a moment to tell them that I was home and that I loved them.  Many nights were spent lying in my children’s beds as they slept.  I would hold them close and pray for them.  I truly believed that if my children were asked the question “Was your dad present in your life?” they would answer with a definite yes.  They have always loved that their dad was a coach.  They loved my teams and my wife has always found special moments for us to spend together as a family even during the craziness of a football season.  However, with one child no longer living in my home and the other “too grown up” to want dad to sleep with her, I found myself missing those quiet moments of prayer for the children I would gladly give my life to protect. 

As we moved into this stage of our lives I began to think more and more about how to keep my family connected to each other and to the Heavenly Father that had saved us all and blessed us with a wonderful life together.  As the busy football season began I decided that I would write a letter to my wife and children each day.  The plan was to write a quick note and tell them what was on my mind and what I had prayed about for each of them.  I had two concerns as I started my new writings.  First, I worried that my wife and children would substitute my writings for the writings of Our Heavenly Father.  I wanted my writings to be an encouragement for each of them to explore God’s Word more thoroughly and meditate on His words and not my own.  Second, I did not want my writings to be proof to them that I was praying.  I reminded them in many letters that I also struggled with making or finding the time to spend alone, quietly talking with God.  Through the first weeks of writing I found myself listening closely to comments made on the news, in the hallways of my school and from the coaches I worked alongside each day.  I was amazed at the words I heard on a daily basis that made me think of something to write.  I was also surprised at the stories I remembered from my childhood that I could share with my children that possibly helped them know more about their father.  However, on quite a few occasions, the writings were about an area of my life that I need to work to improve.  Throughout the entire process I found myself praying, like never before, for words to say to my wife and children.  I cannot be certain that each of the words contained in the letters are directly from my Heavenly Father, but I did seek Him on a regular basis and ask for my words to be His words. 

I hope to post my writings regularly and that some of the words of a simple man, husband, father and coach will encourage you in your walk with the Lord!

In His Holy and Precious Name,

Chad

P.S. This site is a work in progress.