"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God". 1 Corinthians 10:31
Do you have a case of Tiger fever? Symptoms may include heart palpitations during a close game, yelling at the TV when things get intense, roaring for no apparent reason, and/or wearing all of your favorite Detroit Tiger T-shirts every opportunity that you can.
In our house, we have an assortment of Detroit Tiger memorabilia. However, one of the most valuable articles of Tiger apparel is an authentic Detroit Tiger jersey that was worn in 1948 when my uncle pitched for the Detroit Tigers.
His name was Billy Pierce, and he was drafted by the Detroit Tigers months before graduating from Highland Park High School. My dad was elated when his sister started dating my Uncle Bill! Not only was Billy Pierce a wonderful person, but this also allowed my dad to get free premium tickets to every home game!
In 1949, my uncle was traded to the Chicago White Sox; that's when his career really began to ignite. During his career, he was selected to participate in seven All Star Games and was the starting pitcher in three of them. He retired after 18 seasons of baseball with a strike out record of 1,999. After his baseball career ended, he moved into becoming a spokesperson for the Chicago White Sox. His figure is on the wall of US Rate Field, and he even has a statue in front of the stadium that was placed in his honor.
However, despite his successful baseball career, the most amazing legacy that my uncle left behind was that he was such a humble man who loved people and loved the Lord. After complete retirement, he filled his time serving as the President for "Baseball Cancer Charities", where he assisted numerous fund raisers for cancer victims. He was an extremely loving husband, father, and grandfather, but most importantly, he had a strong relationship with the Lord and the love of Jesus radiated through him.
One of my favorite memories of my uncle was when he attended my dad's funeral. It is amazing how humble he was in public; he always tried to keep his presence quiet. To the nieces and nephews, he was just "Uncle Bill". We never understood his popularity. However, during the funeral luncheon, it quickly got around who he was, and people started talking to him and asking for autographs. Because he did so many charity events, he took all of the kids that were in attendance out to his car so he wouldn't draw attention away from the luncheon. He popped open the trunk where countless baseballs and hats were stored. He signed and gave every kid (as well as an abundant number of adults) a baseball and hat, and as I watched, I kept thinking how much my dad would have loved this!
My uncle taught me a very important lesson... "What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind?" "What do you want people to remember you for?" Despite his fame and success, it warms my heart when I read articles about him; even in his early years, he had a reputation of being the "squeaky clean" player.
One of the main values of our school is to nurture your child's spiritual walk so that he/she leaves that same legacy of radiating the love of Christ in all situations. Satan is crafty and knows our weaknesses and vulnerabilities. However, with the help of the Holy Spirit, we will strive to follow Jesus in all that we do.
Have a wonderful week shining brightly for Him.
In Jesus Love,
Mrs. Palka