Tonight will bring an end to the Major League Baseball regular season and with it the end to two brilliant careers. \u00a0Those who know me know I am not a New York Yankees fan by any means (nor am I a Red Sox fan). \u00a0However, the one player who I am genuinely sad to see retire is Yankees closer, Mariano Rivera. \u00a0I like Rivera just as much for what he didn’t do as what he did do. \u00a0One the field he was the best closer at least in my generation if not for all time. \u00a0He did it with class and humility and without fanfare and glam. \u00a0Off the field he stayed out of trouble and gave back to many. \u00a0There was a moment last week as Rivera was playing his last game in his home stadium (Yankee Stadium) in which three of the greatest players during my lifetime were assembled together on the pitching mound. \u00a0It was Mariano Rivera (retiring), Andy Pettitte (retiring), and Derek Jeter (most likely to retire next year). \u00a0I like how one sports writer put it, “Pettitte and Jeter did something that very few hitters since 1997 could do, they got to Mariano Rivera.” \u00a0I was not able to see it live, but I have been able to watch it since, and I will say that is a moment that will be etched in my mind for a very long time. \u00a0These three gentlemen have been together for years, they have won together, they have lost together, and late last week along with thousands in the stadium as well as at home, they cried together. \u00a0You normally don’t think of professional athletes as crying all that much, but last week was something that transcended sports. \u00a0This was the last time these three would be on the field at Yankee Stadium as players together. \u00a0Seeing them cry and embrace each other reminds me that we should all take time to enjoy not just the moments of life, but the people of our life. \u00a0As someone who has played on many different teams growing up I can say that your teammates become like family to you. \u00a0I can honestly say that although I was privileged to play on several championship teams, the memories I have are not tied directly to the game, they are tied to the guys I shared the field, locker room, and hotel rooms with.<\/p>\n
1 Corinthians 12:26 says, “And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it.” \u00a0Yesterday (at least at 8:30) we started a new sermon series entitled, “What is a Church Member?” \u00a0One thing that we learned was that we are family. \u00a0Churches certainly remind me of families, because they fuss, the fight, sometimes they scream, they don’t always treat each other the right way, but then there are times in which it feels as though no one else is there for you other than your church family and they go out of their way to do something nice for you. \u00a0My family and I have experienced the latter part especially over the past year when a beautiful little girl was brought into our family in an extraordinary way. \u00a0Our church family welcomed her and loved her and the rest of our family in ways that I can’t even begin to describe, and we will forever be grateful.<\/p>\n
My point is this, cherish those around you, especially your family whether they are your physical family or your spiritual family. \u00a0God has put them in your life for many reasons, one of the biggest reasons is to remind you that you don’t have to go through this life alone. \u00a0You may fight with your family a lot or maybe you are just fighting with them now, but just remember all too quick they are gone. \u00a0It is hard to believe that #42 for the Yankees is retiring. \u00a0Mariano Rivera was the Yankees closer for the past 16 years, but come the first of April 2014, the one affectionately called “Mo” will no longer put on the Yankee pinstripes. \u00a0You have your family today, but retirement from this life is closer than you think. \u00a0Enjoy the time, enjoy your family!<\/p>\n
By His grace through His strength may we live for Him<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Tonight will bring an end to the Major League Baseball regular season and with it the end to two brilliant careers. \u00a0Those who know me know I am not a New York Yankees fan by any means (nor am I … Read More