babies in softball, babies in christ

My oldest granddaughter, RyLeigh, along with her little sister, Gracie, plays on the Florien High School Varsity Softball team.  Bill and I watched them as they competed in the regional rounds of the state playoffs last Thursday afternoon.   They both played their positions well, never faltering, never hesitating, never second guessing themselves, never doubting their ability, never giving up. They played the game as aggressive, confident, determined, competitive, talented, fearless young athletes.  They understand the game, they know what they need to do to win, they know what is expected of them and they give it their best shot. Always striving for that perfect play, that perfect game, or that perfect season.  Always dreaming and striving to be the best. Setting their goals and then continuously working to make sure they reach those goals.
This morning, I watched another granddaughter, Taylor, and her teammates, who are just now starting their journeys as softball players. As I watched these excited, scared, energetic young seven and eight year olds play, I was reminded of just how much our older girls have learned and how far they have progressed with their athletic skills. Many hours of work and practice have been put into this game called softball. Our granddaughters have grown from babies in softball who knew hardly anything about the game into players who are confident in themselves. They have learned the rules and they have mastered the skills.  They have matured into players who know how to react to every ball that comes their way, whether in the field or at the plate.
Our walk with Christ is much the same way.  When we are babes in Christ, we lack knowledge and skills. We lack self-confidence.  We struggle to make the right decisions.   We make mistakes.  We seek guidance and instruction from fellow Christians. We look for people to be our mentors, to teach us right from wrong. We study God’s word to learn the rules of life.  And as the result, we mature into confident, knowledgeable Christians who know how to be successful in our walk with Christ.  We learn right from wrong.  We learn how to handle all of the difficult situations that life throws at us.  We now can play this game of life with confidence that we will be successful.
Our softball girls have set their goal as winning the state championship trophy, and they are working diligently to accomplish this goal.  As Christians our goal should be set on pleasing Christ, and then we should be working diligently to reach this goal. We should always be striving for the prize that Paul writes about in Philippians 3:13-14, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended; but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
NEVER, NEVER QUIT!
This is Nana Nancy, Let Jesus Be YOUR Guide as you enjoy YOUR ride!