Book review Always Fall Forward by Todd Gerelds, Tyndale Momentum, 2018

Review:

Father’s Day is coming up June 17 in the United States.  Perhaps there is no higher accolade a son can give his father than write an entire book based on his father’s words of wisdom.  Always Fall Forward is son Todd’s tribute that has turned his father’s lessons as a football coach into a 52 week devotional.  Each day‘s reading is short and easily incorporated into people’s busy lives.

A word of caution, however.  You must know the language and game of American football to really profit from this book.  Gerelds references innumerable specific football plays to make his points. Sports has always been a treasure chest full of intriguing life lessons for those who can make the connections.  Todd does.  So, for those who love football and understand the strategies of this American passion, Always Fall Forward is a good, small gift book.                

4 stars.   M.L. Codman-Wilson, Ph.D.  5/31/18

Excerpts:

“God made my Dad a coach. I believe that the older Dad got, the more he realized the gift he’d been given to do what he loved every day of his life. This was exemplified in his saying, “Every day is a good day. Some are just better than others”. Dad felt God’s pleasure in doing the job he’d been called to” (Always Fall Forward by Todd Gerelds, Tyndale Momentum, 2018,  p.201).

“Dad’s first radiation treatment happened to coincide with the first day of practice (as the new head football coach at Belmont High School). The doctor and his staff took him in and after reviewing the scans drew lines and circles over large portions of his face with blue chalk… as targets for the medical team to aim the beams of radiation into his brain… Dad emerged from the treatment area still sporting his blue chalk lines…[At practice] Dad still had the blue chalk lines on his face… The team took Dad’s commitment to them to heart. Here is a man who is having radiation beams shot through his head in the morning and coming out into the heat of the Mississippi afternoon because he wants to coach us. Dad’s determination and commitment was reflected by his players. As he went to chemotherapy and other treatments, Dad lost his hair. The team decided to shave their heads to show solidarity with their devoted coach (Ibid., pp.131-133).