Baseball season is winding down and what a season is has been!
Lincoln played on the LA Dodgers, he was the littlest, youngest kid on the team. It's hard being the runt, but he played with a lot of heart.
The teams were very competitive. Besides the Yankees, who have only lost a couple of games in the past seven years, the Red Sox, Mets, Cardinals and Dodgers were all in a tight race for second and third place.
Every game was big. After all, winning is the goal.
.....Or is it?
Last week we had a nail biter with the Red Sox. Mark and I were in the scorers box running the board so we had a perfect view. Coming in to the last inning, the score was all tied up. We only needed one run to win the game.
Mark warned me as he glanced at the batting order. "Linc could come up with a chance to win the game." That comment was enough to make my stomach tie itself in a tightly contorted knot.
Sure enough, Lincoln got up with bases loaded and two outs.
The following is video of a moment we won't soon forget:
In the extra innings, the Red Sox rallied to beat us.
Lincoln sobbed. "That's every kid's dream." "I let my team down." My heart ached as tears trickled down his freckled nose and cheeks.
WHY? I said to myself. Why just this once didn't Lincoln get to be the hero and save the day?
Imagine how the scene could have looked:
The smallest, most unlikely kid hits the winning run to catapult his team into second place!
That seventh grade teammate who likes to tease Lincoln until he cries would have to eat all those unkind words.
Mark and I could have made an announcement over the loud speaker "That was our boy!"
WHY? I asked over and over. Then a stillness penetrated my thumping heart as these words entered my mind: There are valuable lessons in losing.
Losing teaches humility. There is a difference between conceit and a healthy self respect. When you have a good dose of losing, it prepares you for when that unique and special win comes along.
Losing with grace and dignity teaches you how to be a gracious winner who behaves modestly and maturely.
Determination. The grit and tenacity to pick yourself up and come back stronger. The will to work harder and believe that adversity has made you better.
Losing teaches compassion and empathy. You find yourself rooting for the underdog and sticking up for the little guy.
Losing has a way of molding and shaping character that winning lacks.
Don't get me wrong, losing is TOUGH.
It's hard, it hurts. There are tears sometimes, but it is a necessary part of life.
I have a feeling that the day will come when Lincoln will have another chance.
I think he will get to have his moment of glory.
I picture him hitting a walk off home run, his teammates hoisting him up on their shoulders, the game winning ball carefully displayed in his room.
Yes, that will be a great day and the lessons in losing he has learned along the way will make that moment all the more sweet.
6 comments:
Nice action shots! Keep that chin up, don't let 'em push ya or know they have the upper hand buddy! Smile like you know something they don't.
Linc, You have got a great swing. Your video was awesome. What did that other coach say to you? You also look really good in that uniform.
Ah, Linc, we've all gone throught that more than once. Its not fun. Chalk it up to learning experiences. {{{hugs}}}
Tell your mom and dad that the water park and the river float are now open and you want to come visit your cousins.
Linc,
You are a great kid and full of talent! We love you and Marcus had fun playing video games with you today!
That video almost made me cry! It is so hard to watch your kids go through challenges and hard times. Thank goodness they learn something from going through it -- just like you said.
Losing is hard but you just keep on trying, Lincoln is a great kid and he looks like an awesome baseball player. Keep working hard Lincoln you are a great kid.
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