Take Me Out to the Ball Game — Follow Me!
Day 206 of Photo Inspirations – Take Me Out to the Ball Game – Follow ME
We started out with Little League Baseball games for three days last week, and last night it was a BIG League Game. What started as an exciting, fun-filled night with my son and two youngest grandsons at the Seattle Mariners game, became an off-the-charts inspirational time of what it is to make a difference..er…CATCH A Difference….. in people’s lives.
At the 7th Inning Stretch we sang, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” and “Buy me some peanuts and crackerjacks”…..sure held true for us. Eating and more eating is one of the highlights of the ballgame: fish and chips, corn dogs, peanuts, ice cream sundaes, hot dogs, popcorn – I sincerely felt like I was “storing up” for no tomorrow. LOL! “Let me root, root, root for the home team” – and we rooted for the Mariners. Though they lost the game and we wish them better the next time, it didn’t matter to us. We were there for the fun, food, family and best of all – FRIEND! That’s where this post becomes inspiring for my message today.
Ryan & Shawntel and our boys have dear friends and neighbors, Dave & Vicky Valle. Vicky is a teacher, and all the kids in the neighborhood love to hang out at her house. She oozes with love and kid smarts, and the kids love her back. And, Dave Valle is the broadcaster for the pre and postgame show on the Mariners’ radio network. So, when Ryan got the text from the broadcasting booth during the game to come up and see him, we didn’t hesitate. We were honored to get the birds-eye view of the stadium, the game in play, as well as meet the sports broadcasters. Then I got the REAL STORY about Dave.
Asking for a little interview, he gave me a brief run down of his story. I found that at the age of 17, he was drafted by the Seattle Mariners and played for them for the next 17 years and continued on to play for the Boston Red Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, Texas Rangers and then retired from the game when his little 3-year old daughter asked “Daddy, are you EVER coming home?” He did, and retired from baseball. That’s when the Mariners asked if he’d be interested in broadcasting — and he was and that’s what he does today.
But the CATCH-a-Difference-Dave told me about his heart for their Esperanza Ministry (Esperanza means “Hope” in Spanish). While Dave was catching for the Mariners, he decided to play winter ball in the Dominican Republic. Like many North American baseball players before him, Dave didn’t know exactly what to expect while playing outside of the U.S. After his first game in the DR, Dave and Vicky walked out of the ball park and were immediately surrounded by eight or nine young children. At first he thought that they were gathering autographs for their collection. But instead, they were hungry and hoping that Dave and Vicky would give them food. The children were from the poverty-stricken communities near the ball park where houses were made of concrete or tin, without reliable electricity or running water.
Dave and Vicky were deeply troubled by the condition of the children. They spent many hours talking about the children and made a commitment that as soon as they were able, they would return to the DR to do whatever they could do to make a difference. They eventually realized that helping mothers would have the most sustainable impact in a child’s life. In 1995, Dave and Vicky founded Esperanza International as a response to their commitment. They partner with churches to assist in providing funding for these mothers, putting in water wells and are providing other sources of training and helping them help their families.
Dave says: “I think the reason why I’ve been so very blessed in my life, and I believe that when you’re blessed, you should in return be a blessing for others. At times it feels like throwing a rock into the ocean or trying to put out an inferno with a water pistol. But we came to the realization that if we could help one person, it would be worth doing and the answer was a resounding yes. Over the last 20 years, we’ve been able to help hundreds of thousands of people break out of the cycle of poverty, so it’s very rewarding. Why is it important? I believe that in this life if you’ve been blessed and you have abundance, then that abundance is not just for you to keep but to be able to share and have an impact on others.”
Seeing the heart and passion of Dave & Vicky for making a difference in this world paralleled the heart that our family has had for positively impacting individuals and families — spiritually, physically and financially for so many years. That’s why we believe that God placed us here at this time and this place for this season to do more to help those in need.
Yes, it’s a thrill to cheer and root for our favorite sports teams, but there is nothing to compare with partnering with ministries and outreaches that are changing our world for good. I sincerely knew I was supposed to post this message today — and the absolute deciding factor was when I, in my grandson’s bed this morning — looked up on his wall and saw this poster of Dave Valle that says “CATCH A Difference”. I know that poster is conveying that he was a record-breaking catcher for the Mariners — but it was more profound for me that he CAUGHT the importance of being a DIFFERENCE MAKER in people’s lives. He heard “Follow me” and that’s what he has done to impact the world for good. In all the efforts and desires we have for making a living…….it’s when we hear those words “Follow me”…..that we realize making a living is only part of the Master Plan.
It was a motley crew of 12 men that followed Jesus when He spoke those words to them…..and look at how they changed their world. Imagine what we can do when we, too, truly follow Him. Dave’s scripture verse is Jeremiah 29:11….and it should be ours, too! “For I know the plans I have for you; plans to prosper you and not harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future.”