Every so often, I like to introduce you to people who are influencers in the lives of preteen and teen girls. One such person is Tamika Catchings. While you may know her as a professional basketball player for the WNBA, that is only one small facet of her influence. I asked her to share some words of encouragement with you as girls' leaders. You can also hear a bit of her story by listening to a speech she did at Charlston Southern University back in December. By the way, her photo is Courtesy of Pacers Sports & Entertainment:
My name is Tamika Catchings, and I am a guard for the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) Indiana Fever team. I also have my own foundation in Indianapolis, Indiana, called the Catch the Stars Foundation, Inc.
The challenges that I faced as a child and teen are what brought me to sports. See, you could make fun of the way I talked, the way I sounded, the hearing aids in my ears, the glasses on my face, or anything else, but you couldn’t beat me in any sport.
I want to challenge each of you as adult leaders to help the girls you work with (including your daughters) to find that one thing that puts them in their “zone.” Mine was sports, theirs could be reading, cooking, riding your bike… whatever it may be. Find a way to help our girls discover something that they absolutely love to do, and help them do it! Help them discover what that one thing is, to develop it, embrace it, and celebrate it.
It’s not going to be easy. A saying I read once said, “People will always talk about you—whether you’re doing good or bad. But, only one person stops us from where we go. We do Look at Jesus. They talked bad about Him for all of the good things He was doing in the world—healing people, feeding people, mentoring people…’" Ask your girls a question: Who is in control of your future? Who helps you make decisions in your life? Will it be the people around you? Or will you and God decide?
What keeps some girls from being all God wants? It’s fear. Fear of disappointing themselves, their parents, or those around them. Fear of not being successful. Or it could just be old-fashioned laziness.
As adult leaders, I encourage you to tell your young ladies, “Don’t be that person! Allow God to take control of your life. Let Him use your giftedness and uniqueness.” The way I live my life both on and off the court is an example of what that surrender can do.
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