Babe Ruth said, “Every strike brings me closer to the next home run.”

Wow! What an amazing statement for Babe Ruth to make. He knew there’d be strikes, but he also knew there’d be another home run. This speaks of more than just his awesome talent as a baseball player, it also speaks of the attitude of his heart and mind.

In life, there’ll be strikes, even strikeouts. But that’s not the end of the game, or the end of the story.

I remember being a kid and loved playing baseball. Whether stickball on the streets or baseball at the park. And there is a vivid memory in my mind. Whenever it was just us kids, whether it was strikes, hits, homers, or whatever, it was all part of the fun, and never really gave it much thought, we just did it. But one day, my grandmother, who raised me until I was 12, came to the park to watch us play. When I got up to bat, the first pitch was a strike. I was devastated. I wanted to impress her so bad, but all I heard was the ball landing in the catcher’s glove behind me, and my heart falling to the ground below me. I wanted to disappear. But when I looked over at her, she was clapping her hands and yelling, “Great swing David, wait for your pitch, you’ll get it!” All of a sudden, my heart crawled back up into my chest and started beating again. The second pitch strike two, I was equally devastated, but she was still clapping, shouting, and encouraging. Third pitch I slammed a double and drove in a home run. I can’t even remember running to second base, all I could think about was “Gram” seeing all this happen.

I learned a huge lesson about the power of encouragement that day. I think it’s what “The Great Bambino” had in mind every time he swung and missed. And his words have encouraged thousands of players ever since.

But in my life, I have learned an even greater lesson. The true blessing is getting the amazing privilege of just getting up to bat. There are massively great players who never had the Babe’s name or his record.  To them – the sheer joy of playing, swinging, trying, shooting for the stars, swinging, and trying again, is what mattered most. The greater lesson and blessing is getting up to bat, means we’re alive, and every strike gets us closer to a home run, whether in the game of baseball, or the great adventure of life.

Jesus said,

“I have come to give you life, and that you might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10).

Be a blessing to everyone who visits our site. Share a story of when you experienced a “strike”, or even a “strike out” yet you kept “swinging” your way to victory. Your experience will truly be an inspiration to others!