Wednesday, June 15, 2022
“Listen with
respect to the father who raised you, and when your mother grows old, don’t
neglect her. Buy truth—don’t sell it for love or money; buy wisdom, buy
education, buy insight. Parents rejoice when their children turn out well; wise
children become proud parents. So make your father happy! Make your mother
proud!” (Proverbs 23:24, The
Message Bible)
Their names are revealed in Joe Posnanski’s
book, The Baseball 100, stories
of those he thinks were and are the best 100 baseball players ever.
Posnanski wrote: “I have been
reminded that so much of baseball - and not only baseball - is about fathers and
sons. So many of these men found greatness in the game because they were inspired
by their fathers, pressured by their fathers, intimidated by their fathers, taught
by their fathers.” (p.677)
Some of these baseball fathers were failed baseball wannabes, and this
drove them to drive their sons to baseball excellence and in some cases, using
physical punishment, endless practices, constant criticism with little if any
appreciation or praise. There were lots of good dads, of course, perhaps the majority,
but many great ballplayers lived in fear of their father’s frowns and disapproval
even into their adulthood.
Here is a description concerning
George Brett, the magnificent, Kansas City Royals’ player: “But, yet, no
matter how great he became, that familiar fear would return. He would hear his
father’s voice in his head, and he would again worry about embarrassing himself,
and he would try to shout it down by telling himself, ‘You’re the best baseball
player on the field.’ But sometimes, yes, Jack’s voice overpowered his own.”
(p.489) To Jack’s dying day, he never told his son that he was proud of him or
that he loved him.
Small wonder that there are
those who struggle with the imagery of God as Father.
But for those of us who were
raised by relatively good fathers - not perfect fathers, of course - we have much
to be grateful for. My Dad never wanted me to play baseball but he coached
several of my softball teams. He’d get up at 5 a.m. on a winter’s Saturday and
take me to hockey practice. And made sure that I never missed a game.
My love of baseball comes from him. Several times a summer, we would
head off to a nearby ball park to catch a fastball game, orange soda included.
I got to see the hockey great, Bobby Hull, pitch in an industrial league. I
have never seen a ball thrown so hard, so fast and so out of control a lot of
the time. Batters were afraid. Watching a Montreal Expo game on TV with Dad was
a shared bliss. When we lived in Montreal, I took him to live game – that was fun!
We all know that the fifth commandment is: “Honor your father and
mother.” (Exodus 20: 12) Jesus even quotes it twice in Matthew’s Gospel.
Paul uses it, too: “If you honor your father and mother, ‘things will go
well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.’” (Ephesians 6:3)
I hope my children are reading this.
But seriously, if you want respect as a parent, one must practice and
example respect first. “Fathers, don’t frustrate your children with no-win
scenarios. Take them by the hand and lead them in the way of the Master.” (Ephesians
6:4, The Message) Again, in Colossians: “Parents, don’t come down too hard
on your children or you’ll crush their spirits.” (Colossians 3:21, The
Message)
I might add that these prescriptions apply to the role of grandfathers,
too. Or grandmothers. Or any adult who has influence, makes an impact, or
leaves lasting impressions on our children and grandchildren, nieces and nephews,
et al.
“If your little boy asks for a serving of fish, do you scare him with a
live snake on his plate? If your little girl asks for an egg, do you trick her
with a spider? As bad as you are, you wouldn’t think of such a thing—you’re at
least decent to your own children. And don’t you think the Father who conceived
you in love will give the Holy Spirit when you ask him?” (Luke 11: 11-13, The Message)
Happy Father’s Day!
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