The is a very nice little league diamond near the camp. Over the course of time, I have found myself walking that way to take advantage of the park area that surrounds the baseball diamond. From time to time, my path crosses with a disabled vet who lost his left leg in an IED explosion and his wife in is the military station at Dyess Air Force base. Tonight was a night where I was really tired and almost didnt go for my walk but at the last minute talked myself into it. As I was sitting on the bleachers posting my love for my wife on Facebook, I had one of those moments where you know why. Those moments where you see someone who never knows you were watching. This Veteran, Patriot, had obviously been doing PT had been sitting at the diamond opposite me and had been watching a young man throw from a bucket of baseballs pitch after pitch toward home plate. As I arrived and sat down, I am sure they both had been there for some time based on the Vets fatigue and the number of baseballs around home plate. I watched him reattach his prosthetic leg and walk through the gate by the dugout and up to the pitchers mound where I heard him say words to the effect that the boys practice would reap rewards next season. The boy candidly replied he was throwing because he felt he cost his team a game that stopped them from moving on in the championship. I watched him give the boy a hug and then move to home plate and encouraged the young boy to throw to him. No glove, just him and the boy playing catch. Little did the boy know, the challenge of the vet and the burden he carries of how he feels he let his team down for those who didnt survive the IED, similar to the boys burden of failing his teammates with an errant pitch which let the winning run steal home. As I walked away in tears, as I am now just writing this post, I am blessed to have witnessed the sincerest ministry of love and compassion. As I walked away towards the camp I heard the Vets encouraging words that there will be a new season, and he will be ready, and the mere fact he was here throwing when others were home watching the games on TV that his practice would bring him victory. His advice, winners do what is needed when no one is watching, youre a winner. My heart knows God is watching. Next year is going to be amazing...for both of them. Winners. God bless those who sacrifice so much when no one is watching. Lord, thank you for letting me see that moment. Bring them all the success they hope for and more blessings then they can even imagine. And I was whining about being tired and almost didnt go. Stupid.
Posted on: Thu, 21 Aug 2014 03:24:45 +0000
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