Rules for Living Life Through the Game of Baseball

Missing my Nashville babies 

and becoming quite sentimental 

as I thumb through the 

pages of my scrapbooks

(yes, no digital scrapbook for me).

This is my (our) son,

Daddy's man,

but always 

Mama's boy.

He calls me when he wants and needs to talk

about life stuff.

He calls his daddy when he wants to talk

about fun stuff.

In our 35 year of marriage, 

there were some difficult times

as would be expected. 

During one of those years, 

as a little fellow, 

Chad asked, 

"Mommy, are you and daddy

going to get a divorce?"

(Divorce, no.  Kill him, yes!)

"No honey, what makes you say that?"

"I'm just gonna tell you, 

if you do get a divorce, I'm going to 

live with my daddy."

His daddy taught him

how to live life

through the game of baseball.

Before he could hold a bat, 

he was running the bases 

and sliding into home plate

at his daddy's softball practices.

These were his Daddy's rules for living:

"Keep your eye on the ball."

"Sometimes you'll get hit hard.

Take the hit and move on."

"Don't just stand there, swing the bat

and run with all your might."

"Watch for the opportunity to steal

and take it."

"Be a Team Player."

Chad incorporated some these values 

in his Salutatory address 

at his high school graduation.

1.  Keep your eye on the ball.

Keep your eye on the goal.

Chad was always goal-oriented.

"Let us keep our eyes on Jesus,

the Author and Finisher of our Faith."

Hebrews 12:2

"Do you not know that in a race only

one gets the prize. Run in such a 

way as to get the prize."

* I can't seem to find the reference.

Very early, he said he wanted to

Play college baseball

(He did, even though his coach

said he wasn't college material), 

Be Valedictorian of his class

(He missed it by only a few points.)

Be a doctor

(He decided he wanted to be a husband and daddy first

and became a Physicians Assistant.)

2.  When life throws you a curve ball, 

take it and move on.

"Endure hardship as discipline, 

God is treating you as sons."

Hebrews 12:7

Life has not always been easy for Chad. 

He was an ADHD child.

He had many fears

as the result of someone who

threatened his life

over a "don't-tell-anyone 'secret.'

or I'll kill you, your mama, your daddy and your cissy."

He spent many years in therapy.

God healed him completely.

(That's a different blog post 

that will never be posted.)

3.  Swing and Run.

"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded 

by such a great cloud of witnesses,

let us lay aside every weight,

and the sin which so easily 

entangles us and RUN with endurance

the race that is set before us."

Hebrews 12:1

His daddy taught him well, 

and the determined young man

has become quite the spiritual leader

of his home and role model 

for this precious one!

A great husband and daddy.

Thank you letting me share my heart

these past few days.

Bonnie:)