My oldest son, Shane, 14, is amazing!
He loves baseball
and has been playing
since he was five years old.
He tried out for the high school team
and survived the first round of cuts last week.
On that day we gave a ride home
to one of his friends
who didn't make it past that first round.
I was struck by Shane's sensitivity
to his friend's plight.
His words were careful, sympathetic,
and sorrowful for Ben,
because he knew how much
he wanted to make the team.
He felt his friend's pain.
Only after we dropped Ben off
did he let his own joy
at surviving the first round
of cuts come out.
He was elated and so
optimistic at his chances
of making the team!
I was so impressed with Shane's
self-control and unwillingness
to share his own excitement
in front of his friend
for fearing of causing more pain.
Those moments in the car
showed me so much about who my son is.
Strong, supportive, empathetic,
modest and kind.
Character traits
that will serve him well in life,
long after his baseball playing
days are over.
Which came much sooner
than he had hoped.
Final cuts came today.
Shane didn't make the team.
He took the news stoically,
shook the coaches hands
and thanked them for the opportunity.
I was waiting for him in the high school
parking lot and watched him
walk toward the car with his head held high.
And I couldn't be prouder of him
or more sure of the fact that my son,
is a winner, where it matters most.
In life.
