"It's not how many fish we catch or how well we do, it is how much fun we have at doing it." Ethan- Make A Wish
Playing professional baseball for the last five years I have had an opportunity to be around a lot of people and places. Like most people, I have gone through most of days taking life for granted, and forgetting what life is truly about. Going through personal battles of the minor leagues all I focused on was how well I could hit a baseball and getting back to playing after three surgeries. All my energies amounted to what me can do for me.
The past two years I have had the opportunity to look at life in a whole new way. In 2008 I got involved with the Make A Wish foundation for kids. Since then I have never been nor ever will be the same. Through the foundation, I have been given an opportunity to build relationships with some of the best kids I have ever seen or will probably ever know. I never imagined that a person could learn so much through children. When first getting involved I thought I would use the platform athletics had given me to help out and guide kids. Little did I know, I was the one that was going be helped out. By being living examples, these kids have shown how to be kind in the middle of struggle and how to focus on what is truly important.
This year Make A Wish had their annual fishing tournament on October 31st. It had some of the best kids one could ever imagine. The happiness, kindness, and passion for life the Wish kids have is sobering. These children have gone through more than anyone should ever have to experience, and still have smiles that light up the Oklahoma plains. I cannot express my appreciation for what these kids have given me. I want to mention one of kids from the event, his name is Ethan. On my first introduction to Ethan he said, "Hey you wanna see my sharkbite?" Hesitantly I said sure. He without shame pulled up his shirt to show a four month scar that could have been mistaken for a sharkbite, but was the evidence of a successful liver transplant. We were fishing together in a boat and my competitive nature wanted me to catch as big of fish I could for him to win the tournament. That is when he gave me advice I will never forget, "James it's not how many fish we catch or how well we do, it is how much fun we have at doing it." There is nothing left to say after hearing that from a boy who has more courage and passion towards life than most grown men combined. I want to thank all of the Wish kids for being an example to me on how to live with passion, courage, strength, kindness, and happiness.
James
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James and Ethan
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Thursday, November 12, 2009
by James
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