30 Years Behind the Plate
the catcher: I never thought about it before. Even though my husband is the catcher on our church's softball team that he coaches, studying his role never appealed to me before.
(until I found something)
Here's what I learned after a careful internet search: catcher's are usually made, not born. Most begin in other positions. For whatever reason many begin in the outfield, like my husband, or on the mound. Some resign to catching due to an injury. Yet a catcher's job is anything but safe.
A catcher has one of the most difficult yet thankless positions on the field. No one notices you until you make a mistake. Yet the catcher is the leader of the team. He is in the only position that faces his entire team. Not only does he face them, but he must know them well and stay in step with every member and every opposing batter.
Quite a few very successful major league baseball managers were once catchers and the theory goes that a good catcher makes a good manager.
In short, the catcher is a rare breed. You've got to have a willingness to kill your knees and hurl your body between a player lunging for home and the plate. All the while hanging behind out of the lime light. That's why so few young men seek this role nowadays. All guts and grit, and no glory.
On a recent trek to a salvage store in Phoenix with a friend, (I found something). (Something) that perfectly reflected my husband to me. You see, we've been married 30 years today.
Married to my catcher.
He didn't start out catching you see, he wasn't even a Christian when we married and "none too happy" about myself accepting Christ as my Savior shortly after our engagement. But God pursued and determined to save him years later when I was pregnant with our second son.
Two more boys were born to make four. Hardships ensued like waves with intermittent joys, as in all lives, and the catcher was slowly born.
My husband would be the first to say that he isn't perfect. Neither am I. And neither is anyone on a baseball team. In fact, to quote Ted Williams, ""Baseball is the only field of endeavor where a man can succeed three times out of ten and be considered a good performer."
Yet here's the wonderful thing, my husband never left the game.
Ever in step with our family, ever on the defensive watch. Taking bruises and letting his knees get worn and putting himself in harms way to protect. All because he is committed to the One who is committed to him.
Leading our family through losing seasons, only to steadfastly prepare us for the next. Giving honor to God for the wins and the trophies, out of the limelight. Behind the plate.
You see a catcher has to be so in touch with the members of the opposing team also that he must predict where the ball is going to be hit. His head has to be in the game or all is lost. That's a lot of pressure and responsibility! It's a weight that can only be endured when you are trusting God. And you stay committed.
And that is exactly what my husband has done.
Babe, I don't express this enough, but I am so grateful for you and your leadership of our family. I so respect you for your commitment to God, our church, to me and our family. You have taken the hits for the team...for us...over and over. You have laid your life down quietly behind the plate, giving up career pursuits, prestige, leisure, to stay on the field with the team God has entrusted to you. And you have done well.
I love you, my catcher. It's been a wild ride.
I'd do it over and over again...with only you behind the plate.
Let's go another 30, shall we?
(until I found something)
Here's what I learned after a careful internet search: catcher's are usually made, not born. Most begin in other positions. For whatever reason many begin in the outfield, like my husband, or on the mound. Some resign to catching due to an injury. Yet a catcher's job is anything but safe.
A catcher has one of the most difficult yet thankless positions on the field. No one notices you until you make a mistake. Yet the catcher is the leader of the team. He is in the only position that faces his entire team. Not only does he face them, but he must know them well and stay in step with every member and every opposing batter.
Quite a few very successful major league baseball managers were once catchers and the theory goes that a good catcher makes a good manager.
In short, the catcher is a rare breed. You've got to have a willingness to kill your knees and hurl your body between a player lunging for home and the plate. All the while hanging behind out of the lime light. That's why so few young men seek this role nowadays. All guts and grit, and no glory.
On a recent trek to a salvage store in Phoenix with a friend, (I found something). (Something) that perfectly reflected my husband to me. You see, we've been married 30 years today.
Married to my catcher.
He didn't start out catching you see, he wasn't even a Christian when we married and "none too happy" about myself accepting Christ as my Savior shortly after our engagement. But God pursued and determined to save him years later when I was pregnant with our second son.
Two more boys were born to make four. Hardships ensued like waves with intermittent joys, as in all lives, and the catcher was slowly born.
My husband would be the first to say that he isn't perfect. Neither am I. And neither is anyone on a baseball team. In fact, to quote Ted Williams, ""Baseball is the only field of endeavor where a man can succeed three times out of ten and be considered a good performer."
Yet here's the wonderful thing, my husband never left the game.
Ever in step with our family, ever on the defensive watch. Taking bruises and letting his knees get worn and putting himself in harms way to protect. All because he is committed to the One who is committed to him.
Leading our family through losing seasons, only to steadfastly prepare us for the next. Giving honor to God for the wins and the trophies, out of the limelight. Behind the plate.
You see a catcher has to be so in touch with the members of the opposing team also that he must predict where the ball is going to be hit. His head has to be in the game or all is lost. That's a lot of pressure and responsibility! It's a weight that can only be endured when you are trusting God. And you stay committed.
And that is exactly what my husband has done.
Babe, I don't express this enough, but I am so grateful for you and your leadership of our family. I so respect you for your commitment to God, our church, to me and our family. You have taken the hits for the team...for us...over and over. You have laid your life down quietly behind the plate, giving up career pursuits, prestige, leisure, to stay on the field with the team God has entrusted to you. And you have done well.
I love you, my catcher. It's been a wild ride.
I'd do it over and over again...with only you behind the plate.
Let's go another 30, shall we?
Comments
I can't say anything right now but yes...Let's do another 30 years.
I love you soooo much.
Matthew