I slept on this last night & it’s still bothering me … Now that there’s been a sufficient cooling off period, I need to address the confounding controversy that swirled on social media yesterday after Coach Dawn Staley gave all the glory to God in her post-game interview. 1/

After last year’s loss, Coach Staley had questions. As she has said, she ‘couldn’t see straight.’ She never questioned God but she did have questions about how you can be so obedient to your purpose & calling and still come up short. 3/

When we face devastating & unexpected disappointments in life, there are always lessons to be learned. Our job is to figure out what those lessons are and work to grow in them. 4/

Over this past year (& as she always does) Dawn has praised God anyway. She has cont’d to put in the work. She cont’d to stand on discipline. She continued to trust & obey. She still doesn’t have all the answers but she does have better understanding of what God was up to. 5/

Dawn’s unfiltered, transparent & bold expression of faith after Sunday’s game was an acknowledgment that a blessing delayed is not denied. It was an acknowledgment that God is always ready to give us that which we are ready to receive. 6/

Dawn’s statement had nothing to do with God being against any one. It was a powerful statement about what God has done in HER life & how the challenges she has overcome have elevated HER faith. It was her TESTimony! 7/

It’s important to point out there was also a cultural aspect to her comments but instead of debating on social media I would encourage you to sit down with a trusted friend who can offer some real talk and insight. 8/

To be crystal clear, I do not speak for Dawn Staley. She is quite capable of speaking for herself. In fact, one of the qualities I admire most about her is that she says what she means and means what she says. 9/

If you are still determined to rant for clicks on social media, carry on … at your own peril. 10/

However, if you are genuinely looking for understanding it’s my hope that you can receive this message and her comments in the spirit in which they were intended … with LOVE. 11/11

@JudiGatson Beautifully written! Thank you.

@JudiGatson @JudiGatson what about when she commented on people who do not believe what she did and called them a name? Could you mansplain that away as well?