~ by Terry Walters
John 14:6; Ephesians 1:5; Galatians 2:20, 3:26
My dad was a fastpitch softball umpire while I was growing up.
He was one of the best and that is not just a son's opinion.
He is in the ASA Hall of Fame. But maybe just as importantly,
the owners and managers of the teams wanted my dad there
when the really good teams came to town to play
and also had him line up the other umpires for them.
Umpires didn't make much money back then,
so Dad negotiated a few other perks.
We never went without free used softballs
and we got a few broken bats over the years
that we fixed and used for a while longer.
The best perk for Dad was he didn't have to pay for us kids
to get into the games! We were with him, so we got in free.
I remember one all-day tournament where the lady at the entrance
tried to make him pay for us, saying it was different for a tournament.
Dad threatened to walk out right then and there
and leave them high and dry for a head umpire!
We got in free.
I'll get in free to heaven someday, too.
Not because of anything I have been or done,
but because of Jesus and what He has done.
Like Dad at the ballpark, Jesus will say, “This one’s with me,”
and I'll get in. It's about a relationship.
There's a song about it by a group called Newsong.
Listen to it. See if it applies to you.
“This One’s with Me.”
Prayer:Heavenly Father, we thank You for the promise of eternity with You in heaven.
We realize it is a gift, not anything we deserve or could earn.
Help us in our relationship with the only One
who could make it all possible – Jesus!
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