Daniel is one of my favorite people in the Bible. He kept a great attitude in spite of his circumstances. He was moved to a strange land against his will, kept in captivity for most of his life, and had his life threatened. He was loyal to his boss and worked for some difficult people. If we think our coaches are tough sometimes, look at David’s life. Nebuchadnezzar laid siege on Jerusalem, tried to kill Daniel’s friends, and eventually lost his mind. Belshazzar was a heavy drinker, had several wives, and stole sacred items from the temple. Darius had Daniel thrown into the lion’s den for being obedient to God. Yet, Daniel never complained.

Daniel never forgot where his talent came from or whom he really served. As athletes, there are many things out of our control—who makes the starting line-up, the quality of the officials, and the schedule. The two things we can control are our attitude and effort. Daniel did a great job in both of these areas, making him an outstanding worker, teammate, and leader.