My Dad – The Shortstop
My dad, Stan
Droogsma, is still playing softball at 81 years of age. He plays about 100 games a year and travels
around the USA competing. This is so
amazing and so indicative of his spiritual life. Let me share with you why.
Dad
always seems to play the critical positions, like shortstop in
softball. In his life he has always been
willing to take on the things God has put in front of him. He has taught the Bible in many settings,
from Sunday School classes to preaching from the pulpit when called on. He has been in many leadership positions too,
when God called him to them. He is
always willing to serve.
Dad is always ready to swing the bat.
Late in life, God has brought dad many opportunities to share the hope of
Jesus with other men who didn’t yet know of that hope.
God used dad to love on those guys and tell them about Jesus. Several
have made decisions to become Christ followers. Now God is using dad to mentor men and
couples who are in crisis. Dad doesn’t
have all the answers for them, but he knows who to point them to for the
answers!
Dad
always runs hard to first base. In life, like in softball, we don't always hit the ball hard. Sometimes,
in fact, we hit the ball softly. Dad has had
many such times where he did not hit the ball hard, but he always runs hard to
first base. This means taking
responsibility for his mistakes, loving others no matter what and always
staying strong in the Lord.
Dad
always is running for home plate.
Dad knows what his main goal in life is, running for God and his eternal
reward of Heaven. Dad never loses sight
of why he is here on earth---to bring glory to God, to love God and love others, and one day worship
God in eternity.
My crazy and
amazing father, still in the game at 81years of age and still playing softball, too!
I love you dad,
Jeff
