By David Faust
As a lifelong baseball fan, I enjoyed meeting Carl Erskine, the great pitcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Now in his mid-90s, Erskine lives in his hometown of Anderson, Indiana. During his 11-year career in Major League Baseball, he threw two no-hitters and pitched in 11 World Series games, all against the New York Yankees.
When I asked, “What memory stands out most?” he replied, “I struck out Mickey Mantle four times in one game.”
It’s true. In Game 3 of the 1953 World Series, he set a new Series record by fanning 14 batters, including Mantle’s four strikeouts.
He tore a muscle in his shoulder during his first start on a cold day in Chicago in 1948, and as a result, he pitched his entire career with a sore arm. He retired from baseball in 1959 at age 32. A year later, his son Jimmy was born—with Down syndrome. Carl and his wife, Betty, quietly raised Jimmy along with their other three children, and they became champions of human rights, fighting to make life better for people with disabilities and their families. Last summer a film documentary was released called The Carl Erskine Story. It tells how Carl broke down barriers as a friend and teammate of Jackie Robinson and a vigorous supporter of the Special Olympics. His off-field accomplishments eclipse his 122 victories as a pitcher.
In life, as in sports, it’s important to stop and give thanks when things go well. Before we rush ahead and move on to the next event or activity, we should pause and celebrate the wins. After the Jews rebuilt the temple in Jerusalem, they “celebrated the dedication of the house of God with joy” (Ezra 6:16). Later, they spent an entire week celebrating the Passover. “For seven days they celebrated with joy the Festival of Unleavened Bread, because the Lord had filled them with joy” (v. 22).
Here are four reasons it’s important to celebrate the wins.
It Glorifies God: Did your church conclude a successful program? Pause and praise God. Did your presentation go well at school or work? Say a prayer of thanksgiving before moving on to the next project. Slow down and say, “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15).
It Encourages Your Teammates: Morale improves when people feel appreciated. Take time to thank volunteers, friends, and coworkers for their efforts. Joy multiplies—and additional workers are easier to recruit—when we celebrate God’s blessings together.
It Clarifies the Big Picture: The Jews recognized God had been at work—even “changing the attitude of the king of Assyria so that he assisted them in the work on the house of God” (Ezra 6:22). When we are harried and hurried, rushing from one activity to the next, we are less likely to see the Lord’s hand in our lives.
It Points Toward Our Ultimate Victory: Small wins remind us of the biggest win of all: Christ’s triumph over sin and death. It’s great to win baseball games and it’s noble to stand up for justice; but even the greatest human achievements pale in comparison to what the Lord has accomplished through the death and resurrection of his Son. “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).
Personal Challenge: What recent “wins” can you celebrate with your family and/or your church? Thank the Lord for them right now.
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