Sheep Ears

Have you ever controlled your anger? When my son, Paul, was fifteen years old, his all-star baseball team was in the 1998 Junior Babe Ruth World Series. There was a photographer on the site that, for a fee, would take pictures of your son. I signed up for the first game and he took several good action shots of him at short stop. I was pleased. Paul was going to pitch the next game and I signed up once again. I emphasized the fact that this may be his only chance to pitch. “So make sure you get some good ones,” I said as I walked away. We won the game and I couldn’t wait to look at the photos. The photographer’s jaw dropped, and he said, “I’m sorry, Mrs. Witt. Somehow I forgot to shoot him pitching. I have some nice shots of him batting though.” I had really wanted the pitching, but I smiled through my disappointment. “Maybe he’ll get to pitch again” was what he said. I thought, Yeah right. His arm has been hurt for three months. That’s not gonna happen. But two days later, Paul’s arm recovered and he was scheduled to pitch again. I went straight to the photographer. “Don’t forget! He’s pitching again. Get some good ones.” I was confident Rick would get plenty. Maybe more than usual since he messed up last time. I didn’t even bother to take any pics with my small lens camera. Anyway, Paul would look like an ant from that far away. We won that game, too. I zipped on over, excited to see the pictures. As I approached the booth, his jaw dropped even more than before. “I am soooo sorry. Somehow I forgot again.” My mind was really whirling at that point. Believe me, no scriptures popped in my head. I didn’t feel any special anointing to testify. All I felt was anger. How could he forget, not just once, but twice? This may be Paul’s only chance to participate in a tournament this prestigious. There would be no more pitching. All those thoughts went through my head, but my mouth froze. This time it was my jaw that hung open. I’m pretty transparent with my facial expressions. So I’m sure he figured it out. I wanted to explode, but I knew it wouldn’t change anything. Rick offered to take pictures of my son on the mound when everyone left the field, and Paul, even though he was exhausted from the 100 degree heat, agreed. He sent them in the mail to us, and I must say they turned out fantastic. Rick really felt badly about the situation and he made up for it when he didn’t charge us for them. When Paul’s high school team, the Pine Bluff Zebras, played in the state tournament in Fayetteville, Arkansas, his junior and senior years, Rick took the pictures and we smiled and gave all- knowing hand waves as we passed each other. All was forgiven and we were in good standing with each other. In 2005, Paul’s senior year in college, the Baylor Bears made it to the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. It was the goal of all teams to make this trip and we couldn’t believe it! I took my camera to get candid shots, but I didn’t worry about game shots, because I figured they would have photographers for hire at this illustrious tournament. I figured wrong. After talking to about eight different people that worked at the event, the conclusion was: you’re on your own. Well, at least I brought my own camera, I thought. But when I took my first picture, something jammed. It was broken, it was busted, and I was disgusted. I couldn’t let it ruin all the fun. At least I’m here to enjoy the game in person. God please put on someone’s heart to take a few photos that they will share with me, I prayed. The game ended and we won! Hooray! I went in the stands behind the Baylor dugout to congratulate the team. As I turned to go back up the steps, I was greeted by a familiar face. “Hey! Do you remember me?” I was in shock! It was Rick! He proceeded to tell me how he kept up with Paul throughout his baseball career. When he found out Paul’s team made it to Omaha, he bought his tickets to the Series. Nothing was keeping him away. I listened as he excitedly talked on and on. It was as if it was his own son that he was so proud of. But there was one statement that floored me: “By the way, I hope you don’t mind, but I took a few extra pictures of Paul. I’ll send them to you later. Do you still live at the same address?” Believe me, I started bawling right there on the steps of the bleachers. He had no idea what I had been going through that day just trying to get a few memorable pictures. “Of course you can take pictures! Take all you want!” I said through my tears. “You know, Mrs. Witt, I always felt bad about my mistake in ’98.” He started to say more, but I held up my hand. “Stop beating yourself up. I forgave you a long time ago.” We both laughed. I thought back to that day when Paul was fifteen. I admit I was angry when Rick didn’t take the pictures I wanted, but I had a choice as to how I responded. Do I blow up and make a fool of myself, or do I keep my emotions under control? The Bible says “Control your temper, for anger labels you a fool” (Ecclesiastes 7:9, NLT). So if I interpret that correctly, we are allowed to experience our emotions, we just need to keep them under control. I remember Mary and Martha in the Bible. Imagine how they felt when their brother Lazarus died: Lazarus had been dead for four days when Jesus arrived. Jesus loved them, yet He waited till Lazarus was stinking in the tomb. What kind of friend was this? Heal strangers, but ignore your friends. You know they must have been angry, but are you aware that Jesus was angry also? John 11:34 says, “When Jesus saw her sobbing and the Jews with her sobbing, a deep anger welled up within him” (MSG). He had just told Martha that her brother would be raised up, but she didn’t understand. When others had questions about Jesus not healing Lazarus, it says in John 11:38, “Then Jesus, the anger again welling up within him, arrived at the tomb” (MSG). We know that Jesus did raise Lazarus from the dead. However, it is important to remember that Jesus was angry because they didn’t believe him, but He didn’t let His anger rule him. He could have said, “Well, if you’re gonna act like that, he can just stay in the grave!” Get mad, but don’t be a fool with it. Express displeasure, but don’t dwell on it. There was a Canaanite woman that approached Jesus. Her daughter needed to be healed. (Jesus) said, “It’s not right to take bread out of children’s mouths and throw it to dogs” (Matthew 15:26, MSG). The woman could have gotten all huffy and said, “Well, I never!” stormed off, and missed a blessing. However, these are the next scriptures, “She was quick: ‘You’re right, Master, but beggar dogsdo get scraps from the master’s table.’ Jesus gave in, ‘Oh, woman, your faith is something else. What you want is what you get!’ Right then her daughter became well” (Matthew 15:27-28, MSG). I’m sure she was angry, but she controlled herself, and got what she wanted: healing. It’s easy to blow a future blessing with a stupid response. We are the only one that determines our response. I’m glad I didn’t voice how I felt that day with Rick. Maybe God was testing me. I believe I passed. Would you like to know the rest of the World Series story? Hold, on, because here it comes. About a month after we got back home, I received a package in the mail. Ninety-nine free, beautiful, professional pictures of Paul in the game. They were more than I could have ever asked for in my wildest dreams. Two weeks later Rick sent two collages of action shots from the World Series. Like theysay in the Master Card commercials: Priceless. The next time you feel like you are justified in your anger, I’d like you to know: You probably are.