Many of you frequent readers may already know of my deep love for baseball, particularly as I enjoy 
watching my youngest son trying to master baseball's deepest secrets...
Before each game we say a short prayer...thanking the Lord for all the gifts he has given us, asking His blessings on the game and its participants, seeking His protection and safety for any injuries, and imploring His intercession that the game may be played fairly and provide fun and enjoyment for all involved...(read between the lines here)...
Keeping in mind that for 12 year olds, baseball is still mostly instructional, (I never met a kid who didn't want to win), we discuss ways to improve our skills and become more adept at the challenges which baseball offers...!!!
Now, to digress a bit...we have STRONG BASEBALL/ATHLETIC GENES in our family...I never tired of hearing from my father's friends and teammates how skilled he was, both as a 3rd baseman and with the bat...for any oldtimers reading this, my Dad was said to have hit the longest softball ever in our area...a smash to left field that would have left Connie Mack Stadium...That was quite a poke...!!!
On the maternal side of our family, my father in law was recruited for football by ‘The Bear Himself', that's right, Coach Bear Bryant...yet not at The University of Alabama, but while ‘The Bear' coached at The University Of Kentucky...!!!
I relate these stories not to brag, but to set a precedent for my son to emulate...
Let me explain...
My Catholic Faith believes in ‘The Communion Of Saints'...that doctrine, simply stated, maintains that those who have gone to their Eternal reward before us, are still ‘members of our eternal family', not in some ‘seance type' hocus pocus, but as a reality, albeit remaining unseen but nevertheless real and approachable through prayer...
With that said, I was trying to instill in my son, Jared, a sense of these realities, and so I offered to him a suggestion.......I said, ‘The Lord never leaves you, and you have at least two family members who have gone to be with The Lord who can ‘go to bat' for you...With this in mind, play each game, each inning, each atbat and each field appearance as if The Lord Himself is sitting on the bench watching you and cheering you on...'
His response: ‘I can really imagine that, Dad'...!!!
Have a great weekend...!!!
