My grandpa was a huge baseball fan who always rooted for the Cleveland Indians, so of course, I cheer for them too.
Jim Thome, one of the most memorable Indians players from when I was growing up, was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame over the weekend. He had a solid and consistent 22-year Major League Baseball career hitting 612 home runs - eighth-most all time.
During his emotional Hall of Fame speech, he shared these heartfelt words:
“Work hard, don't complain, be a great teammate. Ask other people about themselves. You never know what you might learn. And above all, treat people with respect.
"The best compliment any baseball player can receive is that he is a good teammate. It's the reflection of all the things not listed on the back of the baseball card.
"It's the focus, the attitude, the openness, and the way an individual picks you up on Monday but will call you out on Tuesday. In short, it's about accountability, reliability, and commitment.”
This simple, yet game-changing advice not only relates to baseball, but to many areas of our lives. Being a great teammate is important in our families...our neighborhoods...our jobs...and when we serve at church and in the community.
Being a great teammate requires those characteristics he mentioned because they flow from an understanding of how connected we truly are to one another and how important it is that each of us contribute.
As followers of Jesus, we are reminded of this in Romans 12:4-6 (ESV): "For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them…”
We can function much better when we operate like the kind of teammate Thome talks about (accountable, reliable, and committed) while we encourage someone one day and challenge them the next.
"Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24 - NLT).
Thome also shared how crucial it is to ask others about themselves because we may learn something valuable. Philippians 2:4 (AMP) puts it this way: “Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”
Today, let’s be inspired to be the kind of teammate that cares about others, is reliable, and is committed. Let's allow this great Hall of Fame advice to impact our own lives.
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can unpack that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I pray that I would be the kind of friend and teammate who is interested in others and willing to serve them. I pray I’d find ways to encourage others, pick them up, and call them out in love. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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