12th inning with the 12th man
In support of
Bobby Worthington
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Bobby Worthington
Home field advantage
As the fans predicted….the 12th inning ended with a GRAND SLAM and an unforgettable dog pile on HOME plate.
Yes, we had a home field advantage. And the presence of the Team Bear fans had a notable impact on his ability to dig his cleats in the mud and keep running the bases even when he wasn’t sure how the final scoreboard might read.
Until yesterday I wasn’t familiar with the story behind Texas A&M’s “12th man.” Coach explained it to me and it’s a great story. But the short story is that the sport of football allows 11 players on the field. The 12th man is the spirit of support and enthusiasm from the entire fan base which usually shows their support and respect by standing the entire game.
It’s NO coincidence that Coach was called to play 12 hard innings—with the 12th men cheering him on from the stands.
Yesterdays final chemo chaperone was Craig, coach’s favorite son-in-law. But coach didn’t recognize who his chaperone was at first as he came walking in the door wearing a full bear costume with the “bear strong” team shirt on top.
Coach was able to ring the bell…loud and proud. But what stood out to me the most was watching the ESPN instant replay video on repeat and hearing him say “THANK YOU” over and over. Coach is never looking to BE thanked…. He is always looking to GIVE thanks.
In keeping with the theme of “12” it is absolutely no coincidence that the number “12” is a very powerful and important Biblical number.
-the book of Revelations mentions 12 gates and 12 angels
-there were 12 tribes of Israel that declared the mighty works of God for future generations
-12 is associated with perfection and order
-12 represents authority and completion
-there were 12 disciples/apostles
The number 12 signifies God’s control, His reign, and His sovereignty.
This entire journey coach has surrendered all control to Christ. Coach has allowed Christ to call the plays. And coach has found comfort in believing that Christ is sovereign over all.
After chemo Craig guided coach on a detour….a detour to “test drive a golf cart that Maggie was begging him to buy.” (Thanks to a long time fan, Kelly Weatherly, for assisting with this important task!) While exhausted and certainly not interested in going on this post chemo detour…. Coach didn’t back down to an invitation to “Coach” Craig through properly negotiating the purchase of a golf cart.
The test drive ended abruptly with a road block. The street was blocked by a group of Wesleyan cheerleaders holding a scoreboard banner.
“Team Bear: 12 Chemo: 0”
Once Coach had one final good look at the score board—confirming VICTORY- the cheerleaders parted way and allowed the golf cart to continue towards HOME plate. Where the streets were lined and the driveway was full of the 12th men and the Wesleyan baseball team-ringing bells, shaking shakers, crying happy tears, and dancing to the beat of Wesleyan School’s fight song that was performed by the highschool band.
Special thanks to Suzanne Reinhard, Bold Events, Wesleyan School, and Kiera Palmer for the behind the scenes details to help throw the most fun party!
I tried to count how many people showed up for my dad yesterday. It’s like trying to count hairs on a head (excluding coach’s head). There were countless more that were with us in spirit. And this isn’t because of his successes as an athlete, as a coach, or as an accomplished business man. It’s because he has lived a life of a GOOD and FAITHFUL servant.
Yesterday gave me a glimpse of eternity. Can’t you only imagine the homecoming street parade when good and faithful servants enter the gates of Heaven!!!!
While the game was long, and went into extra innings, it ended yesterday in a walk off grand slam. Almost unheard of statistically speaking in the game of baseball.
Speaking of statistics… the following are statistically low: discovering pancreatic cancer early, getting into the Mayo Clinic 3 days after diagnosis, being a candidate for the whipple procedure, discharging from the hospital post whipple in under a week, never missing a scheduled chemo, not loosing your hair during chemo, and being a pancreatic cancer survivor.
But we know that with God ALL THINGS are possible. Miracles still happen. Hope is still found. Healing still occurs. Battles are still won. Light is still found in darkness. Statistics are still proven insignificant. God is still a way maker.
Coach will continue to be monitored for a while. He heads back to the Mayo Clinic September 17-20. Please pray for clear scans and for the scanxiety that occurs in the waiting game on the sidelines. We are believing and trusting that the scans will be CLEAR. But we certainly won’t loose hope whatever the results might bring. Should the scans indicate a curve ball—we will know who to call—the 12th men—and rally yet again.
“In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare TWELVE manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” Revelation 22
We will NEVER stop praising the lord and playing ball!
🐻⚾️BEAR STRONG ⚾️🐻
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