Fielding

Jordan-

Yesterday I watched your practice from left field, as other non-coaching parents usually do. It was a different experience for me. Instead of "coaching" you I just observed. Instead of critiquing your play I just watched. Instead of watching all the kids play and supporting all of them I just focused on you. What I saw was amazing. I saw you standing behind the shortstop (the all-star team shortstop) waiting your turn. I saw you scooping up every grounder with precision and ease, and making rifle-like throws to first. I saw you charging the ball and moving to your left and right with quickness and enthusiasm, and I saw the all star sulking and dragging his feet with every error he made. You lifted my spirits with pride that over the course of the past year you have turned into an awesome infielder. Your throwing is amazing, always accurate and hard. I give you loads of credit for that because as you know two years ago you had some throwing issues that you had to overcome. No more, your throws are always accurate and straight. Your fielding has gone from good to excellent, you are very sure-handed and quick.

I don't know if the coaches have noticed your improvement or not, but I talked to Mom afterward and I can tell you we both have. We both feel that you have become one of the best fielders in the whole league. However, it's quite possible that the starting shortstop will remain the starting shortstop for the rest of the season. I can tell you from experience that it's not fun not being recognized and appreciated for your efforts. But it helps to think of it this way, you are not playing to please other people, you are playing to please God. He gave you the throwing arm, he gave you the quickness, and he certainly gave you your enthusiasm for the game. And it pleases him tremendously to see you step up as the second string shortstop when asked and use your god-given abilities and attitude. And whether you know it or not, someone is watching. It may be an 8 year old who came out to watch his big brother play and noticed your determination, and starts to play harder himself. It may be a parent, who says, notices your effort in tracking the ball down in the outfield and gunning it to second base, and thinks, boy that kids a hustler. And it may just be your dad, who, after having a tough day and not feeling appreciated for his hard work, who sees your determination to play as well as you possibly can, every time you cross the white lines, on every play, in every game, for God's glory.

Love, Dad

"I love your fight. I know it takes 10 times as much mental toughness for you to make it through a day as other kids. And one day, when you get a vision for your life, and you combine that big heart of yours with your persistence, when you fight obstacles instead of people, you are going to accomplish more than other people even dream of. See, I've seen you overcome tough odds. I've seen you interact with adults, I've seen you help people when no one was watching, I've been amazed by your curiosity, imagination and creativity when your grades didn't reflect it. You know how to think, you know how to argue your point, you know how to persuade people. You have common sense, you have street smarts, you have energy in your mind that others will crave one day. You are going to solve problems when others are perplexed. So don't you ever think for one moment that what happens in a classroom is going to determine your future. YOU determine your future. Who you are inside determines your future. And you, my son/daughter are good soil. If you were a stock, I would buy a lot of you and keep it. Because you have everything inside of you necessary for a happy, meaningful life. I can't wait to see how you change the world. Now you go to sleep and don't you worry about what other people think--you hold on to those dreams of yours. You keep fighting. I am so glad God gave you to me. I am the luckiest Mom/Dad in the world."

"A winner is someone who recognizes his God-given talents, works his tail off to
develop them into skills, and uses these skills to accomplish his goals." 
-- Larry Bird

Believe

"Believe you can and you're halfway there."

-- Theodore Roosevelt