Some of you may know that I once coached Little League Baseball for off and on for over 15 years. All 3 off my sons have played baseball at South Gwinnett Athletic Association (SGAA) starting with Tee Ball all the way up to the Youth Adult (15-18). Our oldest Son made All-Stars in Tee Ball and when I got to practice, I got hear mommy say "he is sitting on the beach" "he hasn't played much" "he is stuck out in the outfield"...."you need to say something to them"....well ladies you may not realize this; but us guys are "fixers", that is our nature.....so I wanted to fix this.
You will never guess what I did.....I started to complaint verbally from the bleachers and one evening a coach asked to speak to me in private....this guy was a big guy and this is what he said "sir I hear you are upset and not happy, I got that...however all of us coaches won guys this year because we know who to coach. You as a parent may not get that. I only have this to say, you have 2 choices...1- is to come to every practice and help...or 2- sit on the bleachers and be quiet!"
So there was a decision that had to be made.....here is what happened....I explained to the rather large gentleman; who I learned later was an ex wrestler, that I knew nothing about baseball and so I would do more harm to the kids than help.....he said "then trust me...let's get a team together, you manage and I will coach" so our partnership started and my Managing/Coaching became. That is how I got into coaching....our Son Justin was 5 then and he now 27.
Managing/Coaching His Team and then our Son Robert turned 5 (his is 25 now)wanted to play baseball and so now I have 2 teams. The boys got to a point that I wanted to make sure they learned everything they could and especially from someone who had more knowledge and so I suggested they play on other teams and they did around the Majors...and I did the assisted coach thing.
When Our youngest Son Lester turned 5(he is now 17)...he started playing baseball, but I did not coach him....I watched him, encouraged him and like Our Other Sons; I watched him over the years grow....
Now I need to let you in on a little secret.....there was a reason a 30 year old adult male knew nothing about baseball and that was because I did not like baseball.....or football....or hunting.....or fishing.....or just about any sport....why? Because my dad was not into that stuff, so I was never taught, never had time. I played football up until the 10th grade.....Tight end #83, that was me.
Then one day I realized that the Cheerleaders and Majorettes rode on the bus with the marching band, I quit football and joined the Marching Band......so music was my interest; not sports.
Ok if you are still hanging in there....I am getting to the meat of (the point); we have grandchildren 6 girls, 1 grandson and another granddaughter in a month...the other night I went to watch our granddaughter Kalli play her first game ever.....she ran and hit and ran the bases backwards, she ran from 3rd over to the pitcher's mound to the dug out when she was suppose to run home.....it was an amazing time. Her helmet was almost bigger than her...she was the smallest on the team. She had heart!
My wife Kay came up to me and said something that was so true....here is what she said; "this is the best time, the kids are having fun, they are running and laughing, running the wrong ways, running into each other....but they are having fun, they don't care what the score is, who's winning or who's losing, they are having fun!"
So when did it stop being fun? When we the parents started interjecting our wants and our expectations. When we the parents and probably some grandparents too; start putting the pressure on.
Let me ask you when did being a Christian stop being fun or exciting? When did we not find it fun and rewarding leading others to Jesus?
Why did we start following Jesus in the first place? Are we not supposed to be excited?
Somewhere, just as we take our eyes off the ball; we took our eyes off of what it should be about which is Christ, we took our eyes off HIS Promises, WE took our eyes off of where we are going and we quit taking people with us.
If we are bored, unexcited....who wants that? Jesus is Exciting! Do You Have Heart?
