Learning to Love ... ME

This girl loved to go to baseball games when her boys played.  There’s something about Babe Ruth or Legion Ball that is so much better than professional.  I have no idea how many games I attended when the boys were growing up.  I will tell you that when Jeremy played in High School the whole four years, I never missed a game… (Kev played football, and I never missed a game either!)  My boys started playing tee-ball and came up through coach pitch, then the Babe Ruth Parks and Recreation Leagues.  My ex husband coached, and I ended up more times than not being the Team Mom.  What memories!  I totally miss those days.

I was reading online this morning about the woman who was struck by a maple bat that shattered.  She was four rows from the front; a batter swung and made contact with the ball.  She said she watched the ball, as all ball players are always taught, keep your eye on the ball!  Then she said her world went black.  The barrel end of the bat hit her in the jaw.  It knocked her out and when she came to, there were people trying to help her.  Her jaw was broken top and bottom.  She was treated nearby and was asked if she wanted to be transported to a hospital.  She declined and had her friends take her instead. 

Now you’d think professional baseball game, freak accident, NO PROBLEM.  Well I learned something I didn’t know or have never heard.  Most professional baseball parks more or less tell fans to watch for fly balls, bats… or whatever else because the ball park is not responsible.  So, this woman has had to have surgery, her jaw now has a metal pin or two in it, she’s still wired, has terrible headaches, and her perfectly aligned teeth are no longer aligned due to the bat hitting her.  She is a single mom to two boys and is left to fend for herself. 

This woman I am sure is feeling like she’s been hit and hit hard.  She was naturally assuming since she was in a ball park that there would be some type of insurance that would be required to cover such accidents.  There is not.  She’s totally responsible for her own medical expenses due to this unfortunate mishap.  All I can say is I have just learned a lesson myself.  I would have assumed the same. 

Her friend that was with her is now looking into suing the makers of the maple bats.  It seems that it is well known that maple bats have been known to explode and to do it often.  The teams, players and makers of the bats are well aware of this.  So why are they being used?  What does it take before the manufactures of these bats, the teams and the ballparks realize that someone could be killed just as easily as injured? 

How will you feel when you are hit and hit hard with something?  Will you stand back and allow this type of thing to continue happening?  Will you open your mouth and talk to all that will listen and demand a bit safer environment for your family and yourself?  How does one go about fighting injustice?

Dear Heavenly Father, be with this woman as she struggles to heal.  Guide those in the baseball world to see the dangers.  Help those who have been hurt doing one of America’s favorite pastimes.  I pray for all the folks who are hurt, who have pain and who suffer daily.  Lord, I pray for those who are mentally, emotionally and spiritually hurting as well.  There are so many ways Lord that we hurt, we suffer and we need your help.  Dear Lord, I thank you that my days are mostly pain free… I thank you that am emotionally healed and that I have a loving heart and not one of jealousy and hatred.  Dear Heavenly Father… We all struggle, and if we only ask for your help, I know that you’ll be there for each of us.  Thank you for my family, friends, neighbors, people I have met and those who I am destined to meet.  I pray Lord that you’ll put your hands on all who need to know that you are indeed Lord…  guide me Lord to the paths and ways that you’ve chosen for me to follow.  Let your love flow Lord from me to those who are lost and need to know of your grace… In the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior I pray, amen.

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