Baseball Season has begun!

For the last two years, baseball season means that, in order to feel like our kids are in a safe environment, Charles or I, or both of us, need to coach the team that our boys are playing on. So, with a bit of trepidation on my part we signed the boys up with the local Sandy Cal Ripken League. The only reasons that I didn't demand to be the coach of one of the teams is that this seemed to be an, get ready for this, organized league (meaning: trained coaches with real experience and a passion for kids), and I was tired of being Mom, Teacher, and also Coach. It just gets to be too much of me with the kids. They really need a break from me in charge! So, we signed them up, they had their try-outs, which were skill evaluations in order to place them on a team that will fit them best. We had been told that every kid plays and it's really all about learning here. I thought, "yeah, right. I'll believe it when I see it." Well, tonight I saw it. Nathanael's age bracket teams were chosen last night, and we got the call from his coach telling us that we had a quick team meeting and short practice tonight at one of the local schools. And, would you believe it? One of the first things he said was the "First, baseball is about having fun. Second, it's about learning the game and skills. Third, if we win then great, and if we don't, we learn. It's still all about having a good time." Now, I can see from what he said that it may sound like it's all about making the player feel good, but that's not what he meant. He meant that it's about the right attitude and always giving 100%, never giving up, being a good sport. Then he said another thing that threw me for a loop. He said to the kids, "The most important thing is minding your Mom and Dad, doing your chores, and definitely, do your homework. School is really important, and if your parents come to me and tell me that you can't play because your grades are down, then I will respect that, and you won't play." No kidding. This guy really seems to be a good guy and a great coach. As I was driving back to Starbucks for coffee to warm me up while the kids finished practice, I was thinking just how refreshing it was to feel like my son was in a situation that wasn't imminently harmful, mentally or spiritually. What an amazing gift from the Gift Giver Himself! Here we are in a place where we know relatively few people, needing to have an outlet for the boys to meet other kids and continue in their chosen sports, and then God just happens to heap blessings on us by providing a league that truly does seem to emphasize learning skills, not punk attitudes, fair play, not steal it home if you can, and respect for your parents and coaches, not foul language and constant disrespect. Over all, it seems like the good of the player comes first. Now, look at that, "the good of the player." That doesn't mean the good feelings of the player, but what is truly best for them. Just like God does with us, He gives us what is good for us, even if it doesn't feel good, but it has our future best interests at heart. I'm thinking I can support this team philosophy!