Tips For Triumphant Living--Never Make Assumptions

My grandson, Corey, decided to play baseball this year. It’s his first time to be part of an organized sport. He’s a good athlete and we figured he’d have no difficulties picking up the game.

It’s not been as easy as we thought. There are many skills to be learned and the intricacies of the game don’t settle into place without a lot of experience. It’s been a challenge for Corey because most of his teammates have been playing for at least three years. Also, Corey’s small, really small. We knew that but didn’t completely understand just how little he is until he ran out on the field with the rest of the team.

Still, it’s been a good season. Corey’s worked hard and he’s learned a lot. His skills and knowledge of the game have grown tremendously.

His coach is a good guy, but he made an assumption about Corey’s skills. Corey has spent most of his games in right field. He’s longed to do something more, but when he's asked for permission to try something new he’s usually been turned down. At last night’s game the coach, for some reason, decided to let Corey play catcher and learned a valuable lesson about assumptions.

Corey has wanted to catch for some time. (The team needs a good catcher.) For weeks the coach turned a deaf ear to his appeals at a chance, assuming Corey couldn’t do it. But last night he gave the littlest kid on the team an opportunity. As it turns out, Corey’s a natural for the position. His size and agility are a perfect combination for the position behind the batter. He had a great game.

Corey hadn’t been behind home plate long when both coaches were beaming and shaking their heads in amazement. And I figure they were kicking themselves for not giving him the opportunity sooner. We have only a week and a half left in the season. They’d made a wrong assumption. We all do from time to time.

Assumptions can rob us of special opportunities, the treat of using unique gifts, of experiencing good times, and maybe even years of service to God. Too often we assume we can’t do something, that we’re not qualified or not gifted enough. Or we may wrongly believe that God wouldn’t ask that of us. And we miss out, too afraid to take a risk.

Next time you make an assumption, stop yourself and check with God. Maybe he has something unusual in mind, maybe even something bigger than we can imagine or hope for. Remember, He can do all things.

Grace and peace to you from God.

Bonnie