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Stepping Outside the Box

Last week in church I read in the bulletin that a group of folks were thinking about putting together a co-ed softball team to play in a league around Des Moines this summer. It got me thinking…it could be something really fun for Matt and I to do together. Now, I am NOT a softball player…never have been, but Matt played baseball most of his school days and has always loved the sport. I was thinking maybe it’d just be fun to be a part of the team, get out and make new friends, and do something completely out of our comfort zone. So on the way home, I mentioned to Matt that I thought maybe we should consider joining – and honestly, I expected him to be a bit hesitant…and rightly so. But he wasn’t. Not even a little, as far as I could tell. He just said sure. Even though he can’t play on the team, I thought it’d be fun for us both to just be a part of the team…and he even said he could give me some pointers. If I hadn’t been driving, I would’ve jumped on his lap for a big ‘ol hug. Sometimes, he really just amazes me and I can almost feel my heart swell with love for him.

Like the other day at breakfast. He’s sitting at the table with his breakfast in front of him while I’m a whirlwind around the kitchen preparing my own breakfast and packing my lunch. When I finally plop down to join him at the table, I look over at him…hair all disheveled from the night…and he gives me a big grin and asks me how I’m doing. Matt is not a morning person, and I can be kind of grumbly as I’m running around the house in the morning…and yet he took the time to ask me how I was and shoot me the most irresistible and genuine smile. That smile made me forget my grumblings and reminded me why I get up and get going each day. For moments like that.

I’m not really sure I can fully express how excited I am for us to join a softball team together. I know that not even a year or so ago I wouldn’t have wanted to play, let alone expect Matt to want to sit in the dugout and be a part of the team. And yet, here we are. Amazing. I think sometimes we all get sort of stuck in a rut. Or maybe we just tell ourselves we can’t do things just because we’ve never tried, and we’re scare of failing. I know I’m guilty of this. But if Matt can put himself out there, with an open mind…surely I can too.

Comments

Emily said…
You two are already an inspiration for what "teamwork" can accomplish.
8:48 AM
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