I am so frustrated I could scream.  Like a petulant preschooler, I want to stomp my foot and with hands on hips shout “but it’s not fair!”  What is so unfair?  Little league.  Those of you without children are thinking, “What could the big deal be?  It’s just little league?”  Those of you with children are nodding silently.  You know.

            C’mon, it’s just little league!  It’s not like the World Series is on the line!  All I want is for all the kids to have an equal chance -  equal playing time, equal chances to play the “good” positions, equal time at bat.

I want it to be fair.  The coaches want to win.  So, six boys play in the infield for the entire game; six alternate between sitting the bench one inning and playing the outfield the next.  Occasionally one will get to play in the infield for one inning.  You can guess which group my son is in.

            We all have stories to tell.  Little league isn’t always fair.  But how do we respond?  The mama bear in me wants to rush in and right the wrong I see for my little cub.  Naturally, I’ve married my polar opposite and he thinks we should just suck it up and request a different coach next year.  I have seriously considered respectfully talking to the coaches, pointing out how their strategy actually violates the league rules and request that they make some changes – and I really do mean respectfully.

I understand that they are just dads doing the best they can.  They have volunteered hours of their time and I truly appreciate their dedication.  Afterall, my husband and I have both coached our kids’ teams before.  We’ve been in their shoes and know how hard they are working.  I think that is why I haven’t said anything.  I’m sure that they aren’t deliberately trying to be unfair.

Another reason I hold back is that these men aren’t Christians… and I am.  If I go to them, what kind of a witness will that be?  Done correctly, it might not hurt my witness, but it will certainly not help.  Instead, if I don’t let on that I’m frustrated, if I learn to forgive and let go, what kind of impact will that have on the coaches?  On the other parents who are frustrated?  On my spiritual growth?

Afterall, it’s just little league.  The World Series isn’t on the line.  No future major league contracts are at stake here.  But someone’s eternity just might be.

It’s so easy to say this, and so hard to do this.  Not speaking is hard enough, but having a good attitude and countenance is even more difficult.  I’ve failed on both accounts.  I confess, I’ve grumbled in the stands with other parents.  I’ve acted coolly toward the coaches.

I heard Andy Stanley share about a similar situation with his son.  By the end of the season, even Mr. Stanley was fed up.  Long story short, his son’s coach started attending their church and was introduced to Jesus.  So if you see me at the ballfield muttering “Andy Stanley” under my breath, you’ll know why.  I’m trying desperately to keep my tongue and my attitude in check.

When you really get to the heart of the matter, this isn’t about baseball.  It’s about me being willing to love like Jesus did.  It’s an opportunity for me to impact lives for eternity with the choices I make.  I can model true Christianity or I can just be another hypocrite.  I choose the former.  Like the song Everything to Me says,

I want to tell the world I’ve found

A love that turned my life around

They need to know

That they can taste and see

So everyday I’m praying

Just to give my heart away

I want to live for Jesus

So that someone else might say

That He is everything

He’s more than a story

More than words on a page of history.

He’s the air that I breathe,

The water I thirst for

And the ground beneath my feet.

He’s everything-

Everything to me.