Have faith

Some of the most meaningful lessons in life can come from the most unexpected experiences. Take a student’s choice of activities while in school. Whether it’s athletics, agriculture or preparing to be a leader of tomorrow, these events and activities teach our kids something that no lecture or textbook ever could. Things like loyalty, teamwork, and faith. Yes, they may consume our time, but if there’s any doubt that it is time well spent, just ask our five year old what a week at the state tournament has taught him.

I knew the days of traveling and late nights might get a little hard for the boys, so as we prepared for four days of competitive action, I tried to take their minds off the miles we had left to drive and focus their thoughts on all things good, keeping karma on our side for one more week.

We talked about the state tournament and exactly what it means, and why it’s any different from any other tournament we play.
“Do we get a trophy?” Cooper asked, already concerned about collecting more hardware.
“If we win three games, the boys will get a trophy,” I said, and he seemed to be dreaming of another gold medal for his collection.

Then he asked, “Who do we play?”
“Sterling” was my reply, and I could almost see the life draining out of his dream. Immediately, he said, “We’re gonna lose.”
Shocked at his response, I said, “What? Are you crazy? Why would you say that?”
“Because they always beat us,” he said in dismay.

It’s true, Sterling had had their way with us several times in the past year or so, and I suppose it had left a bad taste in this little boy’s mouth, but I couldn’t stand his defeatist attitude.

“Come on, Cooper! You gotta have faith!” But I could tell from the look on his face that he wasn’t hearing that catchy guitar strum from the late ‘80’s pop tune playing in his head like I was. To him, those words meant nothing.
“Have faith, you know. Believe in your team! Believe in your coach! Know that we can do it!”

Still, the kid wasn’t buying it. And it wasn’t until the end of a 14 hour day, and three incredible softball games, that he had his first living example of just what that phrase might mean.

With two outs and two on in the bottom of the seventh inning, against the number one team that few thought could be beaten, I sat on that cool, metal bleacher and whispered in our boy’s ear. “Watch, now. Only one more out.” And about that time, a liner hit strait to the outfield was caught, and the celebration began.

“See that, Coop? See how happy they are? They just beat a team nobody thought they could beat. But they did it. That is why you’ve got to have faith.”

I could tell the experience really got him thinking, but still, it was Sterling and boy, does losing make a lasting impression on this child.

So when we made the drive back to the city two days later, I asked him on the way, “Well, how are you feeling about Daddy’s game?”
“When do we play if we lose?” he asked, giving concession to his still-doubting thoughts.
“We don’t.“ I reminded him. “If we lose, we go home. But remember, you’ve gotta have faith, right?” He looked at me with his brown eyes wide and his brow slightly furrowed. I could see the puzzlement on his face, so I decided to take another route.

“Think about it like this: Do you believe that God is real and that he made us and the world and that he loves us and is always watching over us and keeping us safe?”
“Yes,” he said without hesitation.
“Even though you can’t see him?” I asked again.
“Yes,” again, without delay.
“Well, that’s faith! You believe in something even though you may not understand why or how. You believe in something even though other people may not. You have faith, even when something seems impossible.”

Not sure I’d done any good at all, and frankly a little afraid I might have just given my kid several reasons to ask a whole realm of questions I’m not really prepared or equipped to answer, I said a little prayer of my own, having faith that my timing was on for this ever important lesson to be brought to life through the efforts of 13 boys, a coach, and a game of baseball.

And sure enough, a half-pound of sunflower seeds, four chewed cuticles, a hoarse voice, and a raw tongue later, at the end of the longest seven-inning game I’ve ever nervously attended, I had the sheer joy of sitting next to our son and whispering in his ear.

“See that?” I said as we watched the celebration. “That is why we play ball all year long--to earn the right to play here, these three days, in the state tournament. To win a game like this, that nobody thought we could win against a team that nobody thought we could beat.”

He looked up at me, smiled, and said, “Hey, Momma. We just beat Sterling.”
“That’s right, Buddy. I never doubted it for a minute.”
“Yep. You just gotta have faith!” he said.

I couldn’t have sung it better myself.

And that’s All in a day’s work!