BB Bats, Speeding Pick-Ups, And The Unconditional Love Of God


A few years ago I played on our church’s softball team. Instead of playing in a church league we joined a traditional softball league hoping for opportunities to be a light to our community. Overall it turned into a rather rocky experience with record setting losing streaks over the years. Some of the teams we played against lived and breathed softball. I remember our opposing team coming to the field so drunk they had players fall down running the bases. We still lost. But I also remember praying with unbelievers, and that was pretty awesome.

Our team finally won a game one season. The weather was bad, and only 7 players from the opposing team showed up on the field. Rather than have them forfeit I and another teammate switched teams for the day. So although our team finally won, I still lost.

My baseball career began when I was a boy and played little league baseball for one season. The coach never played me. I was one of the smallest boys on the team, and couldn't seem to remember which end of the bat to hit with or which hand my mitt went on. Okay, it also wasn't really that bad, but I definitely showed some need for improvement. I even remember one game when the coach started yelling at me to turn around. There was another ball field behind ours and I was facing the wrong game.

I actually played 3 innings in the entire season. I struck out twice, walked once, and got out going to second. If you don't know baseball let's just say that's not too impressive. However, after every game my Mom would take me to 7-11 and buy me a few BB Bats. They were a taffy candy that was popular back when playgrounds were paved, kids didn’t wear seatbelts, and riding in the back of your Dad’s pickup truck going 70 mph down the highway holding on for dear life was deemed an acceptable way to transport children.

My Mom would tell me how proud she was of me, and how well I had done. Growing up I thought my Mom was dillusional or had no understanding of baseball. Now I know she was expressing unconditional love for me. It meant a lot to me then. It means a lot to me now. God's love is a lot like this, and he calls us to love like this.

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." I John 4:7

I encourage you to show someone love who may not have done anything to deserve it. Also make sure those you love know you love them. Let's love them like Jesus loves.

I don’t play baseball anymore. But if I did God would still love me even when I struck out. And my Mom would still buy me BB Bats.

Following the Son,

James A Williams

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