Home Run - by Monica

Excerpt from Our Daily Bread September - November 2009 Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson

Sara Tucholsky, a softball player for Western Oregon University, hit the first home run of her life in a game against Central Washington. But she nearly didn't get credit for it. As she rounded first base in excitement, she missed it! When she wheeled back to correct her mistake, she injured her knee. Crying, she crawled back to the base. By rule, she had to touch all four bases on her own for the home run to count. Her teammates could not assist her in any way.

Then Mallory Holtman, the first basement for the opposing team, spoke up. "Would it be okay if we carried her around?" After conferring, the umpires agreed. So Mallory and another teammate made a chair of their hands and carted Sara around the bases. By the time they were through carrying her, many were crying at this selfless act of compassion, and Sara was awarded her home run.

Many times we get upset about the selfish people in the world -- the ones who cut us off while driving, knock into us in the grocery store, talk behind our backs, etc. This showed me there are selfless people in the world. This team helped a girl win who wasn't even on their team. So many people don't help out their own friends and family, let alone someone on the opposing team. Don't walk on other people, only caring about yourself. This Christmas season, and all year long, we need to make it our goal to do as Mallory Holtman and her teammates did -- lifting people on our shoulders instead of tearing them down. Sometimes helping someone else succeed means even more than your own accomplishishments.