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Key Bible Verse: The wise, when rebuked, will love you all the more (Proverbs 9:8). Bonus Reading: Proverbs 9:7-12

As Lauren and I walked through Rome in the summer of 2005, we passed a guy who looked awfully familiar. "Coach Dungy!" he called out. "It's me! Regan Upshaw."

Regan was vacationing in Italy with his wife and children, just as we were. After we made introductions all around, Regan brought up our time together with the Buccaneers.

"Coach, I just want to thank you," he said. "I remember how you were always talking about responsibility and doing things right off the field. Why are you on me about all this stuff that doesn't matter? I thought. But those things you were telling us are the reason I'm married today and why my kids are doing so well. They made no sense to me at the time, but they do now. I can't thank you enough for staying on me."

The next time I saw Regan was at our hotel the night before the Super Bowl. Tarik Glenn, our Pro Bowl offensive tackle, had been Regan's teammate at the University of California, and Regan had come to see him play. Once again, Regan thanked Lauren and me for the example we'd been to him and then joined Tarik at our chapel service. I saw a real difference in Regan—ten years after missing those appearances at that fourth-grade class.

—Tony Dungy in Quiet Strength

My Response: Do I resent or appreciate someone who points out a flaw in my behavior?

Thought to Apply: Nothing in life can take the place of dependability. Brilliance, genius, competence—all are subservient to the quality of faithfulness. —Wallace Fridy

Adapted from our sister publication Christian Reader (9-10/01).

Copyright © 2009 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

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Prayer for the Week

Ask God for the resolve and discipline to be consistently faithful with routine matters in ordinary times.

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