This past week-end brought cool weather to the sunshine state allowing us to enjoy autumn like weather, a welcomed change from consistent sunny mid nineties day after day since early March.
Coinciding with the arrival of hot temperatures is the baseball season. Less than a week from game one of the world series, I am reminded of an old baseball grudge I want to share with you all.
It was the last weekend of the 1964 baseball season. Bill Valentine was umpiring a game between the Detroit Tigers and the New York Yankees. Dave Wickersham was pitching for Detroit, and he had 19 victories for the season. One more would be a sign of stardom. But it wasn’t to be.
After a close play, Wickersham tapped the umpire on the shoulder to ask for a time-out. Touching an umpire is against the rules, so Valentine tossed Wickersham from the game—depriving him of his chance for a 20-win season.
For the next 39 years, Valentine lived with a gnawing regret for booting the pitcher in that split-second decision. But he doesn’t carry that regret anymore. Last year, Wickersham wrote the umpire a note, telling him he was right in his decision and that he held no hard feelings. That note lifted a weight from Valentine’s shoulders.
In Genesis 45, Joseph lifted a burden of guilt from his brothers, who had sold him into slavery—something far more serious than a simple misunderstanding. Yet he was willing to forgive them.
Is there someone who needs to hear a forgiving word from you that would lift a burden of regret? And, would it not lighten your burden to forgive this person and continue moving forward walking in Jesus’ footsteps?
While forgiveness has the potential to mend two people’s hurt in one shot, revenge can only benefit one person yet often leaves all those involved feeling empty and unsatisfied.
Let us forget the hurt and pain found along life’s way; Let us remember kindness given day by day.
Let’s pray!
Father God;
We thank you for your blessings in our lives
For your inspiration and your guidance
Helping us be more like you
Each and every day, one step at a time.
Lord we pray you will continue to lead out footsteps
And fill our hearts with love,
Allowing us to forgive those who hurt us
And deliver our souls from the pain.
Father we thank you for your forgiveness,
For your unconditional love,
And for all that you have blessed us with in this life
And the hope you fill us with as to the next life.
God we love you and thank you for all that surrounds us!
Praise God,
Amen!
This message was written by Daniel St.Pierre
Email: DanielStPierre@ThriveThroughChrist.com
