If you can’t say something good…
Today was the first game of the girls softball tournament in our home town. A nice little crowd had gathered at the ballpark in the warmth of the sun to watch the girls play their first tourney game. The first inning was frustrating, as runs were given due to overthrows and fumbled balls. The crowd, which was mainly parents and grandparents, became anxious and verbal about obvious mistakes that were being made. It’s like they forgot everything they were ever taught about softball, what’s going on?, were some of the comments made in the stands. Each individual parent yelling at their particular child with terms of encouragement and reminders of what they had been taught. As the top of the first inning closed, and our girls came to bat, things began to look a little more promising, and by the close of the inning we were only down one run.
I chose to sit in the car to watch the game, as my parking place was as good as a front row seat. My comments and critique of the girls playing could be heard by no one but myself, and that suited me just fine. Unfortunately the sun beating in the car window made it very uncomfortable to sit there without the motor running, and I being frugal, refused to turn the car on to make myself comfortable. The heat finally won out and I went to sit on the bleachers for the second inning. The coach decided to mix up the field positions a little bit, which caused a little confusion for the girls. Second inning was much like the first in fumbling balls and overthrows which walked runs across the home plate. There were some good catches, and a double play by our girls, which gave us a ray of hope of pulling this game out of the fire.
Unlike the safety of my car, my anxiety about the plays and calls could be heard by those sitting all around me. While nothing derogatory was said, I was perplexed with some of the calls made because the rules had changed since I was a coach. This only made me more nervous and tense during this inning. It was time to go sit in the shade of the car in my lawn chair, alone and out of earshot of anyone else. I found myself jumping out of my chair and clapping and yelling, run, run, run, several times during the bottom half of the last inning. I also jumped up and cheered when my granddaughter hit a double, bringing two people home. It was a real nail biter and we ended up winning by one run, so the next tournament game will be on Saturday. Oh yes, did I mention that these are six-year-old girls?
As parents we are on display during activities like this, and it would behoove us to be on our best behavior. We are setting examples for those sitting around us, and our children, on how to behave during circumstances like this game. While we always want to have our children excel, this was not the World Series, and they call it a game for a reason. We would do well to teach our children I Corinthians 10:31: Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. We should take every experience we share with our children as an opportunity to instruct them in the ways of the Lord.
We as authors can get excited during a writing streak, and can be less than perfect in our speech patterns, and grammar. We are so caught up in what we are doing that we miss the little things that help us paint a vivid picture of the story we’re trying to tell on paper. We would do well to stop, and think, and reread what we have written. Something that is a fatal error in my character, but I am always striving to improve in this area. One thing I am determined to do is to give God the glory for any and all success I may have in my writing career.
The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
Exodus 14:14
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
Proverbs 17:28
He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.
Proverbs 11:12
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
James 1:19
A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.
Proverbs 29:11
Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
Job 6:24