Facing the Giants.

This weekend we played in a very COLD baseball tournament.  There were four teams in our division all with pretty good records.  The teams we face in tournaments are so different from our team.  The other teams are ALL-STAR teams with hand selected players from different towns.  Our team is a group of boys that have played together for many years and will hopefully feed into the High School program in a few years.

The major difference is that the other teams are always packed with HUGE boys.  Boy-men, really.  We faced some 10 year old boys this weekend that were the same size as a small man.  The main thing that comes with size is the ability to hit to the fence. 

Hit after hit after hit.

Our boys held on tight in the first game.  I hate to say we lost because of two bad umpire decisions.  But yeah.  We lost that game due to two bad calls.  This game was a nail-biter.  The score went back and forth the whole time.  The Pirate boys played a great game and they should all be proud of their efforts.

We went on to lose the next three games.  Although we were all disappointed in the outcome, there are so many lessons in losing.

You never quit.

You never give up.

You never stop hustling.

You never stop giving everything you have.

You always stand with your team.

You stick together through the good and bad.

You cheer each other's victories.

You stay true to who you are.

You shake hands and congratulate the winners.

You leave everything on that field.

You stand united.

Isn't that just like life?  You have victories and losses.  You succeed and fail.

BUT YOU NEVER STOP.

Our boys picked themselves back up in the semi-final game and played their hearts out.  They didn't give up.  They faced their GIANT and made us proud.  They walked off that field heartbroken, but strong and united.  They proved to each other that they all deserve to be there.  They all had success in that last game.  They all dug deep and committed to see it through to the end.

I don't know about you, but that's how I want to live my life.

Every single moment.

Giving everything I have.