UNFINISHED – CHS FOOTBALL

December 16, 2025 / livingthelifeofchrist / Leave a comment

The Collierville High School football team selects a “theme” for each year. I am assuming the coaches do it because every year it has been different…last year was UNDEFINED and this year was UNFINISHED. I never really paid much attention to the tagline until last night at the CHS football banquet. Here is why…

It is not lost on me that as the years pass, the football team will know less and less about who Trey really was and WHY there is a Trey Erwin Award. It’s like the NCAA Heisman Trophy (well, not quite). But who knows who the trophy is named after, why, and when. John William Heisman with the first award given in 1935. I’ve said many times, the hardest thing for a mother to think about is the fact that their child might be forgotten. Luckily, most of the coaches know Trey’s story and only one remains that was a coach at the time he played. I bet CHS students can guess. Coach Mike Bradley.

I sat with the only family I knew, Tim and Kelly Woodard. When it came time for the Erwin Award, Bradley Stubbs was announced. I didn’t know the young man, of course, but Kelly grabbed my shoulders and said, “Oh, he’s wonderful!” Bradley’s younger brother and Kelly’s youngest, Matthew are best friends. If you don’t know how I feel about the Woodard family, just ask me. Love runs deep. We go to church together and I’ve watched her kids grow up and Trey taught Drew in children’s church.

When the banquet was over, I made a beeline to Bradley to introduce myself. He looked at me like I had three heads until I told him I was Trey‘s mother. His eyes lit up, and his family gathered rather quickly. I gave him a copy of my book and told him that I hoped it would give him a little bit of insight as to who Trey was. Then came my shock. He said he already knew about Trey. I was quite puzzled until he said he was a Peep. I immediately understood what he was talking about. He told me that Tara Peeper was his teacher at Crosswinds and she talked about Trey all the time. I have to pat myself on the back for not falling apart thinking of Trey and Corbin (Peeper). I explained Trey and Corbin grew up together. They were so excited to be able to tell Tara and I said I would also text her. When I got in the parking lot and sent her a text, she said that Bradley had already FaceTimed her and she sent me the picture.

When I got home, I thought more about the football tagline UNFINISHED. God is not finished with Trey. God orchestrated this meeting by weaving many moments and people together. Remember, God is not finished with any of us. He will only be finished with us when we openly reject him. Even then, I believe in my heart that he is full of grace, mercy, and forgiveness for those that choose to return to follow him.

I told Bradley about the larger award with the plaques of every player who had received the award each year. He did not know that it existed and I told him his name would be added to the award. I’ve asked several people at CHS where the award is located. I sure would like an updated picture of the plaques of each special player that was chosen. I pray it’s not stuck in a closet somewhere in the large sports facility.

As you gather with family and friends this holiday season, remember to love each other intentionally, speak with kindness, and remember that God is not finished with you.

Once a Peep always a Peep. Once a Dragon always a Dragon. Thank you to the Collierville football team who continues to remember a simple boy who was not perfect, yet unashamed of loving Jesus.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭1‬:‭16

When Faith and Fear Collide.

August 20, 2024 / livingthelifeofchrist / 1 Comment

It’s that time of year…football season. The lull of summer is passing, kids are returning to school, and hopefully the temperature will begin to change bringing a slight breeze for Friday night lights. It has always been my favorite time of the year – even before kids!

I have been a VOL and Memphis Tiger fan since I can remember (football and basketball). How can those two co-exist? They can. Prime example two rivals who both have my heart for different reasons – the Collierville Dragons and the Houston Mustangs.

Trey and Collin played football from the CYAA (youth league) age until high school at Collierville. We are and will always be Dragons. I remember from Trey’s testimony video he said, “I love football. I love football first, playing it, watching it…” I know Trey didn’t mean he loved football more than God, and as parents, we made sure it was not his idol. Proof? I guess showing up at church on a Wednesday night late after practice – sweaty – without a shirt on proved his devotion. Not a bright call on his part, but he was there and Keith made sure he put a shirt on.

I have mentioned many times that the picture below was taken by Roger Cotton, the team photographer, the night the Dragons beat the Mustangs in 2011 (September 2, 2011, won 14 to 6), just months before we found out about Trey’s cancer. Roger captured the excitement just at the right moment. I cannot remember much about that game except that Herman Osteen Field was PACKED on both sides of the stadium…classy versus trashy. I don’t even know how classy v. trashy began, but let me tell you, both schools took it very serious from clothing to hyped trash talk. I’m sure many remember those days! And they were fun for both sides.

Fast forward to Dragon football season of 2012. Trey passed away in July before football season began, but he sure wanted back on that field. When I mentioned before about Trey running into church late after practice, that is one place there was no division between Dragons and Mustangs. Matter of fact, most of his friends at church went to Houston. That made this win (and bragging rights) even sweeter in 2011. But in 2012, the Dragons and the Mustangs came together to honor Trey – August 31, 2012. The Dragons did not win the game. Matter of fact, they lost 24 to 10 and played AT Houston. The quarterback for the Houston Mustangs was Gavin McCrary, the eldest of the McCrary clan, and I am close with the entire family. That was a night, even though the Dragons lost, two teams did co-exist even though the competition was there to win a football game. NOW, maybe this information will help you grasp just a little of my affection for this picture.

I read an article recently about co-existing in our daily lives as Christians. My search was about faith and fear, something I am learning a lot about. I do not question myself about my faith. I have a personal relationship with my Savior that nothing can break. But wait, I have fear; fear of cancer. This is something new for me because I have not experienced this kind of fear. My sister said something very profound last week – we have confidence in God and all that He can do, but we do not have confidence in cancer and it’s ability to go away. The Lord knew we, as His children, would have fear. This is why He so often comforts us. Because He knows that within perfect faith, fear cannot exist, but within our imperfect minds and hearts they can. He wants us to know that simply because we experience fear does not mean we don’t have faith.

So, I ask that you pray for us. Jay is a rock and I am the one afraid; afraid of losing my best friend. When you are a “fixer” and I can’t fix him, frustration is overwhelming. Jay does not like my frustration or where it takes me…with our finances, his health, everyday life, and I understand. Right now, while my fear and faith might co-exist, make no mistake that my God is bigger than any fear I might have, and fear will not rule our lives. It’s a choice.

You are all a blessing to us, and we are very thankful to those who have signed up on our Meal Train and who have donated to our Go Fund Me. We already have enough to pay our smallest bill to West Clinic, which brings such a relief to our daily fight. It has been hard to swallow pride and accept any help given, since so many helped us when Trey was sick. Again, thank you.

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

#prayfortheErwins

Planting a Seed

September 4, 2012 / livingthelifeofchrist / 9 Comments

Last Tuesday I received phone call from a mother of one of Collin’s teammates on the football team. I am team mom for the 7th grade, of course. I do everything else, so why not! She asked if I could take her children to the game and I replied that since I was at work downtown, she would be best served by contacting one of the coaches. I explained that Collin was catching a ride with someone because of my work schedule. I explained that I would be travelling to Collierville before heading to Arlington and did not know if I would get the players to the field on time.

As I was in my car headed to Collierville, my phone rang again. At first, I didn’t answer it. You know, the dangers of talking on your cell phone and driving on the expressway. A minute later the call came again and I can see it on my dashboard. I answered the phone and it was the mother of the two boys. She did not tell me whether or not she had talked with the coach, but asked if we could make arrangements and I told her I would be happy to pick up the boys and get them to Arlington with me.

What do you talk about when you have two boys in the back seat that you do not know? Sports! Of course! Having enough knowledge of every sport to be dangerous, I embarked on many different discussions such as, who is your favorite college football team, who is your favorite player, who is your favorite NFL team, who is your favorite quarterback, who is your favorite NBA team, and on and on. As we would get to a team, I mentioned Tim Tebow called Trey and prayed with him. I told these two boys how much it meant to Trey that Tim took 20 minutes out of his day to pray with him. Then we talked about DeAngelo Williams and how Trey went skeet shooting with him. I had to explain about skeet shooting first. They asked if I had a picture. So this mom who would not answer the phone while driving was fumbling through her pics on her phone to show the boys the pics of Trey and DeAngelo horsing around.

We talked about the footballs that Trey had from Peyton and Eli Manning and others. And the question finally came, how did your son know all these people? And I said, in a very elemental voice, “My son, Trey, had cancer. He knew that he was not going to get better. Instead of being unhappy, he decided to have joy and people wanted to know why and they wanted to talk to him. Some wanted to help make him feel better by sending him things.” Then one of the boys looked at my radio that had been playing the entire time and he read it out loud, “The Message, Christian Music.” And that’s all he said.

We were pulling into the drive of the school by this time and I told them to hop out and get their gear. One fella asked if he could leave his shoes in my car and I told him no because he would be riding home with someone else. I didn’t get a chance to speak to them again. We pulled up at the school around 10 before the game was to start. I told the mother I would make sure they had a ride home.

After the game, I went to one of our coaches and told him I had given two boys a ride and they needed a ride home. I had Collin point one of them out because I was embarrassed that during the entire car ride I never asked their names nor did I tell them mine. The coach proceeded to tell me the youngest was not on the team anymore and he had spoken with the mother and he would not be able to give the boys a ride to the game. I asked if he would make sure they got home and he said he would. I told him that they might not have meant to ride with him or to play on the team, but that night, they rode with me to hear a little bit about Jesus.

We never know when that opportunity will be that we can plant the seed. Would you be able to plant a seed? Jesus will water the seed, we need only plant it for Him. This brings to mind one of my favorite passages in the bible where Jesus talks about being the True Vine and we are the branches:

John 15:1-8

“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. ²He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. ³You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. ⁴Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

⁵“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. ⁷But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! ⁸When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to the Father.”

Are you producing fruit or are you withering? Can you plant a seed in a simple conversation for the Lord to help produce fruit in that person? I challenge you to try to accomplish it just once a week. Remember, “When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to the Father.”