10-12-2020
My oldest son had yet another baseball game this week. His spring season got moved to the end of summer (covid reasons) and now he's playing fall ball without a break. He’s been having two games and two practices a week for a few months. That’s quite the dedication for a 3rd grader and his family of six.
I didn’t want to go to his game. It’s his first year playing kid pitch, and those games are rarely entertaining. Most of the kids get walked at bat, and the pitcher and catcher are frequently the only ones who even get to touch the ball. My son pitched at the last game, so he probably wouldn’t be doing much this game...except staring at the sky and maybe watching his teammates.
My other kids didn't want to go to his game. They get bored watching and complain about not being allowed to go play at the playground. It's hard for me to watch three little kids in an open area full of strangers and opportunities for injury while I’m trying to see my son on the field. I frequently miss his turn at bat because I’m distracted with the other kids.
My son said he didn't care if we came; after all, his dad was a coach and was always there. But next week will be his last game of the season, and I knew we would be missing it because that game doesn't even begin until after bedtime.
Who is starting baseball games for 8 and 9-year-old kids at 8pm on school nights? Our league. It’s us. Ugh.
Everything was pointing in my favor to stay at home and catch his game on You Tube. I’m grateful that the fields he plays on have a live stream for the times when I truly can’t go see him play. However, I’ve been looking for these “heaven moments” in my life, and I realized that being there as a fan for my son and his team is a heaven moment.
I prepared a picnic dinner for my three younger kids and took them out to the ball game. We clapped for the team when they made good plays and called out positive words to them when they made a mistake. My son ended up pitching for the end of an inning and said he liked having us there so we could see how good he's doing. Yes, I missed his base running one inning because I had to take my 3-year-old to a porta potty twice.
God calls us to cheer for other Christians and to lift up the spirits of people in our lives. The Bible tells us to exhort one another, and God has me showing me this for weeks. The sermon at my church talked about leaders encouraging others. My Bible study taught to encourage kids with realistic praises. A podcast I was listening to today said we encourage each other by participating in corporate worship. My verse of the day and a random conversation I had were both about encouraging others every day.
When God gives me the same message everywhere I turn, I need to pay attention. He’s saying that I can be the heaven moment this week by going to this baseball game and rooting for my son’s team.
Here are three ways I plan on being more encouraging to those around me.
I will be present. When I don’t feel like going to a kid’s game, I will go anyway to cheer on the team and my son. When I don’t feel like going to church, I will go anyway as an example to others that they will be motivated by my faithfulness. When I don’t feel like going to a friend’s party, I will go anyway to support her and celebrate the good times.
I will remember and share scriptures. When a friend I haven’t spoken to for a while comes to mind, I will send her a verse about God’s promises. When it’s Pastor Appreciation Month (October...this month...right now), I will write a letter to inspire my pastors to keep sharing the gospel. When I know a friend has had an overwhelming week, I will tell her what scriptures I have leaned on in the past to help me through difficult times.
I will pray immediately. When someone shares a struggle with me, I will pray right away instead of simply saying that I will pray for them later. When someone comments with a prayer request on social media, I will write a specific prayer to them instead of typing “prayers” on their post. When my child is done with a timeout, I will pray aloud with them for God’s help.
Hebrews 3:13 “But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”
Ephesians 4:29 “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
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