"TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME!"

This has been a week full of baseball! Little league is so much fun for kids, parents, and grandparents.

We had three ballgames today. The oldest two played at the same time, but thankfully the fields are across from each other, so I can watch both of them. My husband helps coach the oldest's team, but I could hear him yelling out to the other one any time he was up to bat, "Go get 'em, Hankus!" (his dad's nickname for him).

There aren't too many conflicting schedules this year. Last year there were several with all four playing, and our daughter's field was the farthest field at the complex. Less walking back and forth this year is great!

Our oldest son, Zachary, pitched for his team today. He's a pretty calm kid, which is a good thing. After striking out quite a few opposing players, another mom asked me if he would get a "big" head after all of his teammates were saying how good they thought he was doing. I told her I didn't think so. After the game, I asked him about it. He said, "I just kept thinking to myself, 'don't listen to them'", so he wouldn't get over-confident! I thought that was neat. Incidentally, they won their first game.

Jacob, the almost-11-year-old, plays catcher. He has played catcher for four years now and volunteers for that position. Not many want to play catcher because of all of the garb they have to wear!

Jacob is not quite as calm as his older brother. Actually, sometimes I tease him by saying that I see steam coming out of his ears. He works on self-control. I guess I should say that he and I work on his self-control - and have since he was 2! I explain to him, that even though he may be disappointed in his or a teammates' performance during the game, his anger shouldn't show on the outside. He works hard at it, but sometimes it's not easy. When he hears his whole name being called from the fence or stands, he knows momma is giving him a warning that his attitude needs an adjustment! On the other hand, he's an encourager to his teammates, too. It's just those little every-once-in-a-while moments we all experience in different ways. So far Jacob's team has two wins, two ties, and no losses. A big change from only winning two games towards the end of the season last year!

The youngest, Tyler, (a.k.a. Biscuit) is playing his second year of tee-ball. Tee-ball is so much fun! Tyler is a lefty and has a pretty strong arm. He's only had two games, but has played pitcher, 2nd base, and 3rd base. He was on 2nd base at the beginning of the game today. A ball was hit towards second and he got it. He threw towards 1st base, but, unfortunately, it hit the little boy running to first just as he reached the base. The ball hit him in the stomach, so of course the little boy was crying. His daddy came and carried off the field. They got him a pinch runner. Tonight Tyler said, "Mom, I wanted to cry on the field today. I felt so bad that I hit that little boy. I told him I was sorry." I thought that was so sweet!

As with any sport, lessons can be learned that can be applied to our daily lives as Christians. Here are just a few that I thought about:

1. Work together. It is important.
(Exodus 18:13-22)

2. Be humble, not proud.
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves", Philippians 2:3

3. Learn self-control.
"In your anger do not sin", Ephesians 4:26a
"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."", James 4:6b

4. Say "I'm sorry".
"And be kind to one another", Ephesians 4:32

5. Your attitude is a choice.
"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus" Philippians 2:5

6. Do your best.
"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might", Ecclesiastes 9:10a

Can you think of any others?