When God coached T Ball

While packing some last minute stuff for India, I found some old photos of my son when he first started playing baseball (T ball). Seeing those photos reminded me of another time in my life when God's ability in me, took over and covered for my insufficiencies.

I had just moved to Dallas to attend Christ for the Nations. My son was 5 and I wanted to give my active boy an outlet for his energy. At the practice right before his first game, his coach announced that he was not going to be able to coach and he needed a parent to step up and take over for him. NOBODY stepped up. Not one father, mother, grandparent, NOBODY!! I heard myself say "I'll be glad to do whatever I can to help, but I have no experience with baseball!". At the same time, I was thinking "are you crazy!!!??? don't say that!!!". The coach called me the next day and said he was bringing over the stuff he had for the team. He said he still had not gotten any other parent to step up and help. I started making calls to the other parents and asked how they would be willing to help out and really didn't get any better response.

And then came Saturday. The day of our first game.

Picture this:

All dressed up in our green Eagles uniforms and hats, warming up on the field...

The referee approaches me and says "where is your lineup?".

I ask, "what's a lineup?!!!!!!!!!".

THAT is how prepared I was to coach a T Ball team. HAHAHAHA.

After our first game in which I had players sitting and picking grass in the outfield when the ball was in play, players who wore their gloves on their heads rather than their hands, our littlest player who insisted on running in circles around the T before running to base, and a second baseman more interested in picking his nose than watching what was going on in the game, I was exhausted and in knew I was in way over my head! I quickly gave it over to God and made Him the head coach and the rest of the season was much easier.

This would not be the first time that I found myself in a position that was over my head, where without God's wisdom, direction, and anointing, I would surely fall on my face. I look back now at all those times when I could rely on nothing but God and I see how God has always been faithful to take the wheel when I needed Him to. As long as I have been willing to give up the controls to Him and admit my total dependence on Him, He has never failed me.

In myself, I am not able. I am so glad I know the ONE who is and that HE lives in me!