How My Husband Coached Me Through More Than Just Driving
I love my husband—deeply, wholly, and yes, sometimes with a side-eye of “Seriously, Oji?”
But there are moments—tucked between the routines and the reruns of daily life—that remind me why I thank God for pairing me with him.
By trade, Oji (a.k.a. “Hubby Coach”) is a football coach and educator. But by divine design? He’s also my life strategist. My personal play-caller. The coach in my corner who lovingly steps in with encouragement, correction, or full-on direction when I need it most.
One of those moments came shortly after I moved to Texas to be with him. He had taken on the not-so-small task of being my primary driving instructor. Let’s just say… we’ve had a few bumpy rides.
I’d had my license for about seven months at that point—and yes, I’d already earned my first official fender bender. So, naturally, Hubby Coach took a more protective stance around my driving privileges.
At the time, I didn’t fully get it. I mistook caution for control. I didn’t understand that it wasn’t about restriction—it was about responsibility. And love.
One evening, he offered me a sweet reprieve from cooking. “What do you want to eat?” he asked.
When I said I’d like to ride along with him, he grinned and tossed me the keys. “Then you can drive.”
Whew. I didn’t know I’d just enrolled in Driving with the Hubby Coach: After Dark Edition.
He was eager to show me a shortcut—one that cut through the mess of highway traffic. I quickly realized that this wasn’t just about food. He had a plan. He wanted to help me face my fear of the dreaded country backroads: narrow, dark, two-lane paths hugged by levies with no guardrails. No street lights. Barely any shoulders. Just winding roads and whispers of old wagon trails.
Y’all, these roads make me clutch my pearls and my steering wheel at the same time.
I called him a “meanie”, but I got ready. It was getting dark, and I wanted to be home before Texas turned into pitch-black country. Meanwhile, he was taking his sweet time. I finally understood how men feel when waiting for us to get ready—touche.
See, I’m the doer in our relationship. He’s the planner. I’m instinctual, reactive, action-oriented. He’s methodical, strategic, sometimes too chill for my nerves. But it works—we balance each other. This wasn’t just dinner; it was a masterclass in navigating discomfort with someone who sees your blind spots.
We called in our order and hopped in the car. At the four-way stop, the drama began. One car was stalling. Another jumped the line. A line of trucks loomed in the distance. I quietly started praying in tongues. Hubby Coach? He laughed.
“You already prayed before we left,” he said. “We’re covered.”
“I’m praying for patience now,” I whispered back through gritted teeth.
Then he told me about a co-worker’s comment on the scratch I’d put on our bumper. Something about our insurance premium going up. That irritated me so much, I forgot I was even scared of the road.
Exactly his point.
Minutes later, he had me turn into a shopping center. I was confused—this wasn’t where the restaurant was. “Why are we stopping here?” I asked.
“I want you to practice taking verbal direction while driving,” he said calmly.
“But this is a handicap space,” I shot back.
“You’re in the car. There are two others open. We’re good.”
He got out. And there I sat, processing everything that had just happened.
In the last 10 minutes, I’d fussed, feared, prayed, and overthought the whole drive—yet somehow made it. My frustration started melting into gratitude.
That night, I cued up my “Overcoming Fear” playlist. And I remembered: sometimes God uses the people closest to us to challenge our comfort zones. And sometimes, your husband is your coach because love is more than flowers and date nights—it’s guiding someone down the road they’re afraid to travel… even if they’re driving.
🕊 Scripture Takeaway – Psalm 32:8 (NLT):
“The Lord says, ‘I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.’”
© 2025, Lela Fagan. All rights reserved.
