By Rev. Tom Eggebrecht
Time and love are gifts that ought never be taken for granted. I was reminded of this a while back while I was watching, of all things, a game in the Little League World Series.
The pitcher was struggling, and the game was getting tense. These kids who play in the Little League World Series are only 12 years old, and the pressure is enormous. So, the coach, who also happened to be the father of that pitcher, came out to the mound with a very appropriate and special message. He said, “I just came out to say how much I love you, as a baseball player AND as a son.” The kid was struggling a little bit with his pitching, but his dad wanted him to know what was most important. He went on to strike out the next hitter, and the team won the game.
When I saw that happen, it hit close to home for me. I coached baseball for 13 years. Our son was on every one of the teams that I coached. I have to admit that there were times that I was harder on him than other members of the team. I overcompensated to show them and their parents that there would be no nepotism or favoritism.
But, the one reason I coached all those years was so that I could spend quality time with my son. I’ll never forget all the time we had in the car on the way to and from games to talk about things (or to simply sit quietly). I will always treasure the trips to Culver’s after the games with the rest of the team. No one could ever take away from us the joys and sorrows, the ups and downs, we had as coach and player for the same team. To this day, I treasure that time and recognize it as a precious gift.
That dad on the mound of the Little League World Series reminded me just how much I love my son and just how quickly time slips away. The last game we had together as coach and player was a loss in our area high school playoffs. It was heart breaking. There were tears shed (yes, even my own). It was the end of an era.
Now our 8-year-old grandson, who lives near us, plays baseball. As I watch him play, it sometimes feels like déjà vu. It seems like just yesterday our son was 8 years old, and I was coaching his team. Now I proudly sit in the stands cheering on our grandson (sometimes maybe a bit too loudly!). But I am struck with just how precious time is. “Time, like an ever-rolling stream,” it says in the old hymn. The stream of time has taken me from being the dad and coach of a young boy to being the granddad and fan of another young boy. In my wildest dreams, I could have never imagined God would have blessed me with times like these and love like this.
The thing about time in this world is that we know it is limited. Every moment we breathe is a gift from God. While I very much appreciated the time my son and I had together on the baseball field, as I grow older, I appreciate even more the gift of being able to watch our grandson play on a regular basis. Not only that, but I sometimes also get to watch our four other grandsons play when we visit them out of state.
I know that these days won’t last forever. I know that seasons come and go. I know that every moment I am granted to sit in those stands and watch the incredible plays they make out in the field, the hard hits when they step up to the plate, and even their mistakes and errors, are all gifts.
Baseball is a game that doesn’t have a clock. You can’t just stall at the end of the game and let time run out. The pitcher has to throw the ball over the plate, and the hitter has to try to hit it. It’s one of the things that makes it a great game. It’s a metaphor for life. Life keeps coming at us, and we have to step up to the plate and take our hacks. We don’t know when our last “at-bat” will be, so by the grace of God we keep swinging, always appreciating the encouragement and support of those who love us.
Time and love are precious gifts. Here’s how to appreciate them:
Do like the Little League coach and tell the people you love that you do. Say it out loud. Even if it’s in the middle of the Little League World Series on the pitcher’s mound. Say it even if you haven’t said it in a while. Say it so often people get tired of you saying it. There can never be enough love shown and shared. And remember that God’s love through Jesus for you is more abundant than the stars in the sky, the sand on the seashore, and the seemingly limitless energy of an 8-year-old out on the baseball diamond.
Be mindful of appreciating each day. Sure, there may be arguments or disagreements, but at the end of the day, love still remains. Before you know it, the little catcher behind the plate will be getting married and have a little catcher of his own. Stay in the moment and recognize that time truly is a gift.
Honor the people you love with the gift of time. It’s a greater commodity than money, riches, or things. Time spent together can never be taken away. Toys break, and money gets spent. Memories last forever. This holiday season, consider gifts of experience and time rather than stuff.
Receive time and love as the gifts that they are. When people want to give you those things, don’t deny them the opportunity. They should be treasured above all other earthly things. And receive once again this season the ultimate gift of a God who entered space and time in the form of a Baby. He demonstrated His eternal love by paying the ultimate price of His life for you. He gives that very same love and forgiveness to you in Word and Sacrament. Receive those gifts frequently.
Be generous with time and love. There is far too little of either of them in this world. You can never give too much time or love to those near and dear—and even those not so near and dear. The gift of those two things could change lives and relationships. As our God has shown, time and love are priceless.
Our son now lives nearly 11 hours away from us. We talk on the phone and FaceTime often, but it’s much more difficult to go out in the front yard and throw the baseball around. Next time we get together, we’re going to have to make it a point to do that. And maybe … well, probably … the grandchildren will join in the fun as we share both time and love.
The Rev. Tom Eggebrecht is senior pastor of Ascension Lutheran Church in Casselberry, Fla., where he enjoys preaching the salvation of Jesus, proclaiming His name, and serving His people. Follow his personal blog at www.tomeggebrecht.com.