"During my 18 years, I came to bat almost 10,000 times. I struck out about 1,700 times and walked maybe 1,800 times. You figure a ballplayer will average about 500 at bats a season. That means I played seven years without ever hitting the ball."
- Mickey Mantle
Yet, Mickey Mantle is in the baseball hall of fame as one of the greatest hitters of all time. He was known as “a superstar who never acted like one. He was a humble man who was kind and friendly to all his teammates, even the rawest rookie. He was idolized by all the other players.”
In 1927, Babe Ruth led the entire league with 60 home runs, but he also led the league in strike outs with 89. Even a weak mathematician like me can see that 'The Great Bambino' had 29 more strike outs than home runs in that season, but Mickey Mantle and Babe Ruth are not remembered for their strike outs, they are remembered for their hits. It's not about their failures, it's about the fact that they didn't quit.
What does that say to us? Success is not found in the quagmire of quandary, and the regrets of failure, it's found in not giving up!
Galatians 6:9 says, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
If we just keep doing what's right and best, if we continue doing the best things for our patients and their families, we all win! In our day-to-day struggles and seemingly endless barrage of challenges, it's easy to get discouraged because of the -strike outs- in life, but every strike out brings you closer to your next home run!
Finally, I leave you with these words, again from 'The Great Bambino', -
"You just can't beat the person who never gives up." - Babe Ruth
We win if we just don't quit!
Thanks for all you do!