When I think of a "can of corn" I don't think of an easy fly ball caught by a fielder. A "Dish" doesn't remind me of home plate. And when I want a "cup of coffee" I don't mean a minor league player coming up to the major league club for a short period and then being sent back down to the minors, I mean a real cup of coffee.
My son has also had a lot of "Ribeyes" - not steaks - though he would love that as well - but "ribbies" or RBIs (runs batted in). And he is all about the "leather." (Refers to how good a player plays defensively or handles the glove.) A year ago he won the "Golden Glove Award" for being the best defensive player on the team.
And on occasion he makes a "circus catch" (an outstanding catch by a fielder) and people shout, "That's an ESPN catch right there!" Yes - he is quite the player.
This year the Lord has transitioned his journey of baseball. It pained us to see him trudging through those difficult moments regarding baseball. As parents we want to fix the hurts or wounds our children face. We want to rise up, defend, and declare the injustice of what is happening.
But God is teaching. As we raise our hands and shout, "God this is awful! This is bad!" He sweetly smiles and sends us his, "No - this is good. This is really good."
So just like baseball God has a language of his own. The game is played the way he wants it to be played and though we don't always understand we can rest in knowing that he has our best interest at heart:
"Your ways, God, are holy. What god is as great as our God?"
Psalm 77:13
The other day as I was flipping through my Bible I came across a note card that I had placed there a year ago. I listed many desires on the card - sort of like my prayer requests. As the Lord answers them I check them off. As I was reading I noticed one I had not checked off as of yet. It read "Grow my son spiritually." As I read I felt the Lord press his hand firmly upon my heart followed with, "I am." Suddenly I seemed to "get" it.
Some say that life is all about baseball - - - but leave it up to God to take baseball and make it all about life.
2 comments:
This journal entry has great meaning for me and my family as our daughter is in a similar situation with band. So many hardships and downright unfair situations that have impacted Brittany over the last few years. I have asked her if she wanted to quit, to escape the "persecution", but she loves the music and I think now as she is a senior that these heartaches were lessons of life in disguise. God not only brought her through them but used them to strengthen her probably in ways I do not even know. As a parent, the lesson for me was recognizing God as the ultimate father with a lesson of his own is far more rewarding and blessed than anything I could have devised.
Hi Debra,
It is so hard to stand by and watch our kids suffer. God is teaching us through this experience that he is teaching our son. He is growing him, building character, shaping him, and getting him ready for the real world. All the while he promises to never leave his side - and that brings us great comfort. Hang in there!! Praying for you all!
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