When I was a teenager, I use to watch Saturday Night Live quite often. One of the memorable skits on the show featured the character Chico Escuela. He was a retired baseball player from the Dominican Republic who used to play for the New York Mets. He had a classic line which he said often and hilariously: “Baseball has been berry berry good to me.” You know what Chico? Baseball has been berry berry good to me as well.

I Love That Game

Baseball has been a big part of my life since I was boy. I have played baseball, watched baseball, coached baseball and have seen my love for the game passed on to my kids, especially my oldest son, Josh. It has brought many great friendships, as well as thrills, into our family’s life. This game of baseball has truly been a blessing in my life and I thank the Lord for such a great game.

The biggest blessing probably came this weekend in Oshawa and Whitby. Josh was competing with his team, the Windsor Junior Selects, in the Junior Provincial Elimination Tournament. His team was able to win all 7 games they played to win the Provincial Championship and qualify for the Canadian Championship to be played in Regina, Saskatchewan, August 18-21.

Three times Windsor won the game in their last at bat. It was exciting to say the least. I am very careful in my prayers to God in asking for my team or my son’s team to win. I am not sure how God would answer that prayer, especially if there are parents on the other team praying for their team to win as well.

A Good Baseball Prayer

But I do pray before my son’s games and I often pray with him. Many times, we pray that the Lord would help them to focus, to be energized, to do their very best and that the Lord would be honored. I think that’s a baseball prayer that the Lord can do something about.

Well, on the morning that this tournament started, I was reading Psalms 3-5. My eyes zeroed in on Psalm 4:6 which says “Many are asking, “Who can show us any good?” Let the light of your face shine upon us, O Lord.” I really sensed that the Lord wanted me to claim that verse as the basis for my prayers that weekend.

I didn’t pray that we would win the 21-team tournament. The Lord knew that was my heart’s desire. But what I was led to pray was that the Lord would show us something good, that His face would shine on us, and that He would be glorified. For that prayer to be answered in our lives that weekend, we didn’t have to win the whole thing.

I just wanted the Lord to reveal His goodness in some tangible ways. Josh was called up to the Junior Select team for last year’s Elimination Tournament. It was not a good tournament or experience for many members of the team, including the coaching staff.

I hoped that it would be different this year. And wow, it sure was. The longer the tournament went, the more the talent of the Windsor Selects emerged and their confidence grew. It was a total team effort, with many contributing to the victory. The God-given talent of the team just came to the forefront.

The Lord did show us something very good last weekend, His face did shine upon us. The performance of the team was weighty indeed. I believe the Lord was glorified in it since the players expressed their God-given baseball talent. They were a true team, working together and encouraging one another. I do believe the the Lord was honored and pleased with how they won.

They didn’t have to win for my opening-day prayer to be answered. But I thank the Lord that the Windsor Selects are Provincial Junior Champs. Baseball has been berry berry good to me.

QOTD: Do you think God cares what happens on the baseball field?