Tuesday, May 8, 2012

This...

DSC_6845 - Version 2

...is a kid who was devastated when the baseball rosters were posted.

Heart. Broken.

DSC_6960

I won't lie to you.  His parents were a little heartbroken too.

If he had moved up from last year, 
he would have had the opportunity of a lifetime this summer.
We thought he had a decent chance.

He moved down.

We prayed.  Before.  During.  After.

DSC_6827

Does God really care about baseball anyway?

DSC_6772

Personally, I think God adores baseball.

DSC_6781

Mainly because it's the stuff little (and not so little) boys' dreams are made of.

DSC_6773

Aren't there much, much bigger things to be heartbroken over?

DSC_6761

Well now.  There's a question if ever there was one.  I must admit that I sometimes compare the magnitude of the struggles my children face to those faced by some families we know well, and think it is ridiculous that we could ever be sad.  But it doesn't change the fact that sometimes we are.

DSC_6668

I have experienced a few heartbreaks that would be tragic by anyone's standard.  The sudden loss of my mom.  The deaths of a close friend and a close family member at their own hands.

DSC_6676

But honestly?  Not one more real than the one my boy experienced this spring. More enduring, and more far-reaching, perhaps, but not more real.

DSC_6677

In our prayers, we asked God to show him what the gift is in this team.  We prayed that he would be receptive and settle into the season that appeared to hold nothing he hoped for.

DSC_6680

Last night was their first win.  Ben hit a home run.  (Kind of. The ball flew off his bat, and he rounded the bases and scored, so it has to count, right?)  He played catcher, an opportunity he had wanted for a long time, but not received.  He was awesome.  (Not just according to his mom.)  He is enjoying his team, and benefitting from coaches who know and appreciate him (whose sons also had roster heartbreaks).

DSC_6788

The season is young, many chapters of the story yet to be written.

DSC_6845

Same with my son.

Today I am so thankful he knows the Author of his story.

Because in the end?  It's not about who had which story.
It's all about the Author, who makes each of them brilliant.

DSC_6746

"When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child.  When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.  Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.  Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.  And now these three remain;  faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love."  1 Corinthians 13:11-13


7 comments:

Melissa Mae said...

Love you and your stories told in such love. Love him too and pray for this year to be one that he'll look back on as character building and fun too.

Tracy P. said...

Thank you Melissa. That means a lot.

Rachel said...

Tracy--you have such a gift for merging words, wisdom and pictures into a beautiful story. Thank you so much for sharing your gift (and insight) with the rest of us! :)

Tracy P. said...

Rachel, how kind! Thank you.

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad some good is coming out of the disappointment - I hoped for that! "God is always good and we are always loved."

Carla

Anonymous said...

love your story and this photos are stunning.

Unknown said...

I understand just what you are saying. Just exactly. I am going to pray and pray that this season brings unexpected miracles. Blessings : ) One time when I was in college my friend Ben, who is now a pastor, told me that rejection was God's protection. He told me God had something better for me. And he did. : ) Praying for Ben tonight. And you also. Love, Becky

PS Happy Mother's Day to one of the best mothers I know.