Each Day Holds the Opportunity for Life Lessons

Day 201 of Photo Inspirations — Each Day Holds the Opportunity for Life Lessons
Just a routine batting lesson before the big baseball tournament this weekend, and Nana gets inspired!

First Life Lesson — we were at the amazing baseball sports facilities owned by former Cincinatti Reds Pitcher, Jose Rijo.  I loved seeing how Jose’s is paying forward his baseball career to training youth — girls and boys to be the best they can be in their baseball and softball experiences. First class facilities, baseball field, batting cages, fitness equipment and superior coaches and trainers. And, even better, his Christian faith is evidenced throughout (i.e., “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”.)  That sure keeps any kid from saying “I can’t!” or “It’s too hard.”

While Brennan was in his lesson, Bryson and his buddy, Jack, wanted to hang outside.  They were pretty stoked when they found 5 baseballs in the woods.  Jose saw them bring them into Shawntel and I, and he told them, “If you’ll go back out and find 10 balls each, I’ll give you each a Rijo t-shirt!”

Game on — those boys flew out the door and came back with one short.  Mr. Rijo gave them the shirts but we wanted to measure up to the task so I headed out with them and we found three more.  “Above and beyond” the call of duty!

Second Life Lesson — “Is that all you’ve got?”  We were inspired as we watched Brennan and the training style of his coach/trainer.  Initially, Brennan was a little laid back in his batting.  We heard the coach say, “Is THAT all you’ve got?”  He went on to say “Get fired up!”  And then said, “Stop smiling.  You can’t be smiling and fired up at the same time!  Come on — is that all you’ve got?  Hit hard — not like a little weinie.  Come on, this is a million dollar opportunity coming at you.  You only gave me a $1.00 hit!”  

Those words rang loud and clear — not just in baseball, but in life.  “Get fired up!”  “Is that all you’ve got?”   Isn’t it time to fire up all cylinders when it comes to taking on life and opportunity and even adversity.  We can be laid back and accepting every curve ball, slow ball and fast ball that comes at us from every direction or we can GET FIRED UP and smack the living daylights out of each one of those balls by a positive attitude, will, drive and determination.  Look at every one of those opportunities and/or adversities as a million dollar ball coming at us — not a $1.00 ball and just tapping it.  Make the most out of every challenge, opportunity, adversity and who knows — maybe it’s that ONE that you get the out-of-the-ballpark hit that will take you for the ride of your life!

That training amped Brennan up so much so that by the end of the lesson the trainer said, “You’ve made me feel like a proud Dad!”  Imagine how God must feel when we give it all we’ve got in life.  He, too, will be saying “You’ve made me a PROUD DAD!”