October 13, 2011 with 12 Comments

454.

Lessons from Aaron Rodgers

I remember the first year he took over the Packers as starting quarterback.

I didn’t like him.

I liked Brett and didn’t think anyone could replace him.

The Packers record that year was 6-10 and I told my dad they deserved it. Did Aaron really think he was going to slide into Brett’s big shoes?

Two years later he won the super bowl and was named MVP. I was yelling his name at the top of my lungs.

I think Aaron Rodgers had finally made his point.

It’s interesting to look back at his early years though to truly appreciate the amazing feat of Aaron Rodgers.

He started playing football in high school and almost didn’t play in college despite a GPA of 3.6 and SAT scores of 1300. At the last minute he was recruited by Butte Community College in Oroville (I’m not making this up. Not horror ville. Oroville). He did pretty well. He was spotted by the Cal Bears coach Jeff Tedford and was eligible to transfer with 3 years left to play in college.

He did well but despite a 10-1 winning record his junior year, was passed over for the rose bowl, and lost to texas tech in the holiday bowl. That was the end of college for Aaron Rodgers who opted to skip his senior year and enter the NFL draft in 2005.

Rodgers quickly slipped to 24th draft choice in the NFL which became the biggest story of that year’s draft. He was the 2nd quarterback selected and headed to my home town Green Bay to stand in the shadows of Big Bad Brett.

Three years later and multiple near decisions to retire by Brett Favre, Aaron finally took the helm in Green Bay, much to the disappointment of the handful of remaining Brett fans – myself included.

That first year was average.

The rest as they say is history.

Maybe you’re not a football fan. Maybe you only got this far into this post because of the bold highlights.

I’m glad you did.

Here’s the lesson from Aaron Rodgers:

It doesn’t matter how you start or what other people think. At the end of the day, what matters the most is what you do with what you’ve got over the long haul.

So. What are you doing with the gifts God has given you?

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  • Milo

    It is most important to finish well. this is what God expects of us. you can falter as you start, meet road bumps along the way but with God’s help, finish well. Bret Favre did not unfortunately, despite all his gifts, it was not nice. Keep pressing on and with God as companion finish well.

  • ramzi

    H was always great…in college, n the pros early and now.

    The dispute was never between Favre and Rodgers, it was between Favre and Thompson. You don’t have to be a fan of either Favre or Rodgers…you can be a fan of both, which I am.

    And winning super bowls, doesn’t justify Thompson. And I was never a fan of Favre for his wins, I love his big heart. I appreciate his talent.

    • ramzi

      have been depressed for 4 straight days…please pray for me, readers…

  • Gina

    morning, with God’s help I’m coaching pee-wee soccer.Feb will be a soccer referee. Looking at teams to play in door.couldn’t have done this with out him. :) and other inspiring people in my life! Thanks L/T/J& her Trevor/M/B Pastor Luke 2:)

  • Gina

    Praying for you Ramzi :) keep your head up:)

  • TerrieAnn

    Ok, so I liked you before Lina, but now that I know you are a Packer fan, well, now I like you even more! :) ) As I watch my 9 year old son begin to realize and use the gifts God has blessed him with (leadership, shepharding) I am so grateful! His experiences now will only help him in the long run and I can only pray that he will persevere as Aaron Rogers has…wherever God takes him.

  • Sue

    So encouraging once again, Lina! Timely–I am teaching at a Kids for Christ club on Friday mornings at our local elementary school. No curriculum, so I study and then teach to about 36 students grades. Right now we’re doing disciplines of the Christian faith. Such a privilege to be in the public school praising the name of Jesus and actually teaching Scripture! It’s alot of work, but I want to be poured out and do this well. He is faithful!!

  • ramzi

    thanks

  • Denise Archambault

    Hey Lina – you actually have some readers in Oroville! Yep – that’s my hometown, and my family still lives there. Don’t hold that against them! Your post reminds me that we may be called to love others, but we aren’t called to please them or make them think well of us. We are only called to please God, and He is the only one who really knows how well we are doing that at any given time.

  • Lori Ridder

    so funny…so timely…my husband is a died in the wool…bleeds blue and orange Bears fan. I just told him last week, I think I’m gonna be a Packers fan…cuz I am really an Aaron Rodgers fan…After my man recovered from fainting he gently tried to reveal to me the errors in my thinking. But I’m sticking to my guns on this one. This guy is a finisher…and he’s classy. Thanks Lina – great post as always!!

  • Amber

    Amen! God is using my gifts in so many ways this season that I just can’t wait to see what he is going to do!

  • http://www.justinandlauriestory.blogspot.com Laurie J

    good stuff, lina. i’m really wanting to be ‘all in’ with my gifts after the incredible retreat i just returned from ;) with 4 small kiddos, i struggle picking what’s ‘best’ and how God has gifted me vs. my own agenda of filling every need i see that i’d like to fill. do you struggle with this?