Tim Tebow - Through My Eyes

Through My Eyes

Tim Tebow with Nathan Whitaker

Contents

Since I first started playing high school football, a lot has been written about me. Some true, some not so true. Some positive, some not so positive. And some of it claiming to even know my mind-set and motivation.

Its not always the easiest thing to be the center of so much spilled ink. You read glowing things, and it doesnt feel deserved. You read things that are critical, and it cuts you to the bone. Its because of both those extremes of others opinions that I felt it the natural thing to do to tell my story, written from my perspective. It also seemed like the right thing to doperhaps in many instances to simply set the record straightsharing my story as I see it, as I remember it, including my actual mind-set and motivation. Sharing it allwhat is true and actually happened. Some of it positive, and some perhaps, still, not so positive. Thats the nature of truth. But all of it is my story.

Through my eyes.

In addition, the sheer amount that has been written about me also seems to indicate that, for whatever reason, a great number of people have a significant interest in me. In some respects that is very flattering. Id guess that any one of us would be flattered by that level of interest. However, my parents always told me, from an early age, that we all have the ability to influence others, whether through our words or actions, or both. They always added that, besides possessing the ability, we also have the responsibility to use it in a positive, encouraging, and uplifting waya platform. Who knows? Maybe my platform will be the same in five years; maybe not. One thing Im confident of is that the Lord already knows the answer to that, and He has a plan for it all. That is something Ive learned to have the utmost assurance of and faith inHis daily, weekly, monthly, total and eternal plan for our lives.

Therefore I have learned that, though God is in control of the big picture, I am responsible for how I use my platform, whatever its sizeat this moment in timeto influence others. Or whatever my age. Or wherever I am, or no matter what is going on in my life at any time. I have a platform that He can use for His good purposes and perhaps even the good of otherstoday.

We all know of people who thought they could do it (whatever it is) tomorrow. We have all procrastinated in such a way, and often to our personal regret. It happens time and again, putting off things that we convince ourselves might be better, more meaningful, more appropriate for another time. So often that better time either never comes or really isnt better or more appropriate after all. And then, sadly, the window of opportunityto do something greatcloses. Heres something else that I havent always grasped but which in the last few years I have come to understand in my own life, and which now burns in my heart for others to also recognize and realize: we all have stories to share. We all have life experiences that can bless the lives of others. Whoever we are. Wherever we find ourselves. Whatever we are involved in, no matter our age or station in life. Stories that, when shared with others, can make a positive difference in the world.

As I tell my story, I hope that you will see that its true focus is on God and on those eternal values that He holds before us as beacons and benchmarks, to help us live lives of abundance that will ultimately glorify Him, while also lifting and bettering the lives of His children everywhere.

What it all boils down to is that if theres one kid who keeps pushing to attain his dreams, or...

if theres one dad who accepts the saving grace of Christ and changes his whole family, or...

if theres one person who sees my mistakes, realizes that we all fall short, and keeps pressing on, or...

if theres someone who agrees that Christians dont have to be weak, either in mind, body, or soul, then undertaking this project was the right thing to do, regardless of what the world thinks is the right time to write a memoir.

God challenges us to change the world. And to accomplish this, He asks us to change it one life at a time .

I appreciate that you are taking this journey alongside me, and I pray that as we take this journey together, you will feel the Lords presence along the way and that you will let Him cover you with His grace and power.

I also pray that in this journey you and I may discover that not only our lives but the lives of others are better because they were touched by something we have shared together.

Through my eyes.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

P SALM 23:1

My head was killing me.

It had been a full day already, but as if that werent enough, now my head was splitting in two. The timing could have been better. I was in New York City for the presentation of the Heisman Trophy and Id spent most of the day exploring New York with my family and friends. But it had taken its toll. A migraine had set in; I guess the travel and schedule had brought it on. I had been traveling non-stop, it seemed, since the conclusion of the regular season a week earlier. I had been blessed enough to win several awards already, including the ones that I was the most proud of, several first-team Academic All-American teams.

The ceremony took place on the periphery of Times Square, at the Nokia Theater, as it was then called. There were about twenty of the 2,100 in attendance on December 10, 2008, who were pretty nervous for me. Those twentymy parents, siblings and spouses, close friends, Coach Urban Meyer and Coach Mickey Marotti from the University of Floridahad been on hand to support me throughout the entire season, as always, in good times and bad.

Statistically, there had been more good than bad that season. Id thrown for over 2,500 yards with 28 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Id also rushed for 564 yards and had 12 touchdowns. But more important, as a team, wed seen far more good than bad as well. We were 121 and had only had one close game in the last two monthsall of them wins.

Of course, Colt McCoy and Sam Bradford, both of whom were invited by the Downtown Athletic Club and were seated beside me on the front row, also had great seasons.

We hadnt played either team, yet. We would be facing Oklahoma and Sam Bradford in the BCS National Championship game a month after the ceremony.

Finally, the moment arrived, and none too soon. As the ceremony unfolded, my head was hurting more and more, and I was feeling nauseated.

The announcement came from the podium, in a moment that none of us would ever forget.

The Downtown Athletic Club presents the 2008 Heisman Trophy to...

Sam Bradford, University of Oklahoma.

My phone began vibrating and wouldnt stop for hours. Texts and voicemails from teammates and coaches, all to the effect that we would take it to Oklahoma in the championship game. I wasnt paying attention to the phone, though, as Sam accepted the awardthe pounding in my head had continued to intensify.

Finally, at a break, I headed out to the bathroom to run cold water over my face. On the way, I passed Coach Meyer and Coach Marotti, and I could feel the intensity of their disappointment and anger as I approached. They were obviously biased in my favor, and were two of my biggest advocates.

I caught their eye and mouthed two words.

Game on.

We know that God causes all things to work together for

good to those who love God, to those who are called

according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28

My dad was preaching in a remote village in the Philippines in 1986. As The Jesus Film played on a large, homemade screen hanging between two coconut trees, he became heavily burdened by the millions of babies being aborted in America. While weeping over the gigantic loss of human life, my dad began to pray, Father, if you want another preacher in this world, you give him to me. You give me Timmy, and I will raise him to be a preacher.