A young Mother with a son of 9, and a daughter of 6, went to her son's baseball game with her parents (the children's Grandparents). The day was mostly cloudy with only a glimpse of sunshine now and then, but the temperature was perfect!
All the familiar faces were there except for one, the young Mother's husband.
Her son had a strong arm for his age and was one of the few kids who could throw the ball from Center-field to home plate with good accuracy. He was fast, attentive, and normally extremely excited to play, and to put on a good show.
But today was different, he wasn't the same, it was as if he was going through the motions out of necessity, not for the love of the game (one that he inherited from and shared with his Dad)!
With the first inning over, his Mom went over to the fence and asked what was wrong. He said he was just missing Dad and wished he could've made it to the game today to see him play. She told him flat out, she also wished he could've made it to the game, but it WAS NOT possible. But then she added; "You know how much he loves baseball, and how much fun you both have when you play it, wouldn't Dad want you to have fun playing the game you both love? Even if he couldn't be here today?" Of course he answered yes to both, and a smile crept across his face!
The boy reached through the fence and touched his Mother's hand, thanked her, and told her she was the greatest! Then he turned and rejoined his teammates as they returned to the field, only this time he had his bounce back in his step, and his strength again in his arm.
Were not the HEALING HANDS of his Mother at work? And if so, was not GOD'S HAND at work as well?
The Mother turned and walked towards the stands, her parents concerned as they saw tears in their daughter's eyes. Her Mother practically flew to her daughter's side, put her arm around her, and walked with her behind the stands to calm her down. What happened her Mother asked? The young Mother explained what had happened, told her Mother at first she had tears of joy for that which her son had said, but then she was overwhelmed by the absence of her young husband. Her Mother gave her one of those wonderful loving hugs that only Mothers really know how to give, and stroked her beautiful hair. Then her Mother told her how proud she was of her, of all she had done, and told her in no uncertain terms that her husband (the young Mother's husband), was just as proud of his young wife, and never could his love also be stronger than right at this moment for her. She looked into her Mother's eyes and thanked her as she too managed a smile.
Were not the HEALING HANDS of her Mother at work? And if so, was not HIS HAND at work as well?
The game progressed, the boy struck out the first time at bat, and while he was up on deck awaiting his next at bat, his Grandfather noticed he was restless. His Grandfather went over to the fence, spoke words of encouragement, echoing the exact words the boy's Father had spoken near a thousand times before. The boy perked up, stepped up to the plate, and hit a HOME RUN. He rounded the bases as the crowd cheered, smiling all the while. So proud of him was his family, even his little sister was jumping up and down shouting his name!
Were not all their HEALING HANDS at work this day? And if so, was not HIS HAND at work as well?
You see, only recently, the boy's Father had been deployed to Afghanistan, and there only two days, he was killed by an I.E.D. (Improvised Explosive Device). Not even a month ago, they had laid him to rest.
As the boy neared home plate, a ray of sunshine broke through the clouds as if to shine upon the boy as his foot hit home plate, and the FAMILY JUST KNEW, the young FATHER WAS WITH THEM!
Were not the HEALING HANDS of GOD at work this day?
DARE TO BE DIFFERENT, DARE TO BE TRUE, DARE TO BE BOLD, DARE TO BE YOU! WE are all significant, each and every one, for WE all have HANDS that can HEAL if only WE hear that which is within OUR heart and choose to do so!
Shall WE begin?
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