A few months back I posted about our dilemma about putting Brian on a part-time traveling baseball team. Well, we had our last of six big tournaments this past weekend. And much to my surprise, I found myself getting a little teary-eyed as the team wrapped up their final game with a big win. Yes, the season was stressful. Yes, we spent more money than I would have liked for an "extra-curricular" activity. Yes, at times it felt like our lives were controlled by baseball games and practice. But I completely under-estimated what a character building experience this would be for Brian, how much he would be willing to sacrifice to be a part of the team, and how much I would love seeing my son excel at something that he loves so much. Both boys have been a part of a variety of different sports activities and teams. But neither of them has ever loved to their core something as much as Brian loved playing for this team. The "little boy" that just a year ago cried when he struck out and fell apart under pressure, emerged as one of the top players on the team. He pitched under pressure situations that I could hardly stand to watch. He was confident, solid, consistent, and maintained a terrific attitude through-out the entire season. Last night as I watched Brian pitch his final game, I knew Scott had been right when he pushed for us to give Brian this opportunity . . . and I do now think it was an opportunity and not an indulgence. And it makes me even sadder that there are so many kids in this community who will never have an opportunity like this. Try-outs for the 10 year old team are in August, and Brian has said all along that he will not do this again next year if it is too much for our family. When we asked him as we drove away on a scale of 1 - 10 how much he wanted to play again next year, he hesitated and wouldn't answer. Then Scott pushed him and said, "Don't think about what you think we want or what is best for the family, but just how much you want to do this again knowing how many fun things you had to sacrifice all year for practice and the games." Without a second's pause, he said, "I would give up everything else to do this again." I'm thinking I'm going to have a lot more baseball in my future, because I think my character has been shaped as much by this experience as Brian's has.
I loved your story about baseball and I have too struggled with that same issue. I do completely agree with you that through sports and being on a team you can have some of the best life lessons and some of the greatest opportunities for leadership. I was in athletics through college and had great character building experiences. There is a great book by Fellowship for Christian Athletes called Serving. It is a great book full of stories how athletes and coaches make an impact on others by leading and serving. Let me know if you'd like to borrow it sometime. I don't know if they sell it at your average store. Thanks for all you do.
Posted by: Jocelyn Monis | Monday, September 28, 2009 at 08:42 PM