A Daddy's Dream

 For as long as I have known Ben and most especially since we have had children, he has talked about his dream to teach his son, if he had one, baseball.

Let me back up for a minute to when I was pregnant with Samuel. We didn't find out if he was a boy or girl, wanting the one-of-a-kind surprise of hearing if we had a son or daughter on the day he/she was born. A few months before Samuel arrived, Ben was struggling with some personal hurts and I had the strongest sense that God was going to give us a son to redeem both of our family lines and to give Ben the chance to be the dad he wished he had had.

A short time later, almost 6 years ago exactly (next week:) the dr held up a beautiful baby boy and said 4 words neither of us will ever forget; "You have a son!"

Ben would even struggle to put into words how it affected him that night. I know my dear MIL, who is reading this, will probably remember the look on his face when he came and told her the glad news and how his heart was so incredibly full.

And one thing that he has longed to do with his son, something that means the world to him for personal reasons, is to play baseball.

 He has been begging me to get the boys in sports and unfortunately that is not an easy thing to accomplish in the city. But this past year, he was adamant that this would be THE summer of father-son sports time:)

 We started doing some research shortly after we moved, trying to find the best program to fit our needs (a.k.a. money and time!) and came across the YMCA Little T-Ball League last week. The 8 week program had already started the previous week but the staff put us in contact with the youth sports director to see if there was still a spot for the boys.

 He called back last Wednesday late afternoon and said the Wed night group was just starting (they had been rained out the first week) and we could come. I hesitated for a few reasons, one being the practice was at 7:15 and the boys are already in bed at that point! Ben, who was on his way home from work, was ready to move heaven and earth to get those boys to the practice that night.

 The coach let the boys tryout together but Zakkai, after being hit in the face with a ball, quickly rejected the idea of playing. And that left Samuel, who has never had an easy time trying new things (This being no exception!), to play.

 They left the house shortly before 7pm in baseball caps, sweatshirts (it was cool out) and we practically had to pry Samuel off the porch to get him to go.

They came back at 8:30pm beaming. Ben's eyes were lit up with the joy that only a fulfilled dream can bring. A Daddy's Dream.

Ben got some used t-ball equipment and we took the boys to the nearby baseball field to practice yesterday. as Samuel (as of last night) is officially signed up for t-ball this summer! Our sweet boys, mostly Samuel as Zakkai prefers to do things his own way (strong will anyone?), are just soaking up the special time with their daddy-instructor teaching them how to play the timeless game of baseball.

It really fills my apprehensive sports-less heart with joy to see this wonderful man, who longs to be a daddy who teaches, guides and leads his children, passing on something that is so important to him and filling these little boy's memory banks with a strong secure daddy-love.

Something to pass on to their children someday.

A Daddy's dream. A Daddy's love.