Chosen

"Discouraged"

As I was driving home from work one day, I stopped
to watch a local Little League baseball game that
was being played in a park near my home. As I sat
down behind the bench on the first-base line, I asked
one of the boys what the score was. "We're behind
14 to nothing," he answered with a smile.

"Really," I said. "I have to say you don't look very
discouraged."

"Discouraged?" the boy asked with a puzzled look
on his face. "Why should we be discouraged? We
haven't been up to bat yet."

***************************************

"Chosen"

Whenever I'm disappointed with my spot in life, I
stop and think about little Jamie Scott. Jamie was
trying out for a part in a school play. His mother told
me that he'd set his heart on being in it, though she
feared he would not be chosen. On the day the parts
were awarded, I went with her to collect him after
school. Jamie rushed up to her, eyes shining with
pride and excitement.

"Guess what Mom," he shouted, and then said those
words that will remain a lesson to me: "I've been
chosen to clap and cheer."
Received on Sat Dec 20 22:13:20 2003