I'm not a huge sports buff. Possibly because I'm not very athletic. Actually, I'm pretty much a total klutz. I trip over my own feet. I run into walls. I do enjoy watching young people play sports. Between them, my two kids played soccer, T-ball, baseball, football, volleyball, basketball, and ran track. So I do understand most sports, I'm just not crazy about watching them on TV.
Having said all that ... I can appreciate a good sports metaphor. I think it's safe to say the phrase, "three strikes, you're out!" is one of--if not the--most well-known. Of course we apply it to baseball, but we also use it in law enforcement settings, work settings--dare I say, even dating settings.
Three strikes. Think about that for a minute. Let that sink in.
One ... two ... THREE.
Not much, is it?
Think about the people you love the most. Think about the third time you messed up--burned dinner, let the car run out of gas, didn't clean your room (I know at least one teenager reads my blog), forgot to run by the bank, didn't buy bread (my faux pas for the week) ... the list could go on and on. Substitute your own foibles. I'm guessing most of us have committed the same error three times on at least one or two occasions.
Now imagine your loved ones pointed to you, then the door, and said, "That's your third strike. You're out."
But that's crazy. Someone who loves you will give you more than three chances. Exactly the way God does. Over and over and over again.
And now, think about someone from whom you've withheld mercy. Someone you've judged and punished. Your punishment might have included harsh words, unfair treatment ... maybe you cut them out of your life--sometimes with no explanation.
Now think about God again. How many times He's shown you mercy. How can we do less?
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
- Is there someone (maybe more than one) you've judged unfairly? Not given a second or third chance? Not shown mercy? Go to them. Forgive them and ask them to forgive you for being hard-hearted.
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