Tribute #3 is to Ms. Kathy Hill and the First Baptist Church - Prattville, AL women's softball team. This is a story about how I became connected to a church, to a Baptist church, and ultimately to the woman who would lead me to salvation.
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I moved to Prattville, AL from college in May 1992. I don't remember what day of the week I moved into my apartment, but I remember that first Saturday very very well. I had seen a large softball complex in Montgomery (P'ville was a suburb) and decided to drive over on that Saturday morning to see softball in the south. Turns out there was a tournament happening so I went in. Keep in mind that I was tough to impress back then....I was a seasoned fastpitch softball player not real impressed with slow-pitch. I realized though that I was officially an adult and that slow-pitch was all that was left for me (sniff sniff).
So I walked around the complex, stopping at each field to watch the teams. I got to one field in particular and liked what I saw....these women almost looked like they knew what they were doing! I sat down on the far end of the bleachers and watched - keeping to myself. It wasn't long that this woman spoke to me in that sweet southern voice; asking me if I knew someone on the team or something like that. I was polite and made small talk with her - she ended up introducing herself as the coach's wife - Kathy Hill. I told her that I'd just moved to town and she immediately invited me to church. Convenient that she and her husband, the coach, were the singles class teachers. (Nice work God.....)
So that was the beginning. I DID go the next day and the next week and probably the next week. While my desire was simply to pick up on this team, I ultimately made some friends, witnessed some joy and became a Christian three years later with the help of one of my teammates.
How bout that!?? Thank you Kathy Hill for reaching out to me, for not staying in your comfort zone with your friends, for caring enough to say 'hi'. Thank you FBCP softball team for welcoming me onto the team and being my friends even though I probably wasn't the most Christ-like on the field (hahaha). Gotta give it up to God too for orchestrating the circumstances of that Saturday morning too.....it gives me chills every time I think about it!
About Me
- Carolyn
- Olive Branch, MS, United States
- I'm a mom, a wife, a daughter, a sister and a friend. I work, I play, I laugh, I smile and I cry. I love to read, to ponder and to write. These are the thoughts I feel inspired to share...by no means all of them, just some of them.
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This post brought back so many happy memories. I had the best time playing with the girls of FBC. I always had Carolyn encouraging me while I was on the mound....Nikki yelling at me from right field telling me to keep throwing strikes and don't worry about breaking a nail! lol
ReplyDeleteI am so glad that God chose to bring each and every one of you into my life. Kathy Hill is an amazing woman who I am sure has many jewels awaiting her crown in heaven.
girl.... I had no idea how to play softball... at least NOT LIKE YOU! You taught me how to take off running from first and not stop until I got to third base! "RUN ANNIE!" and I'll NEVER FORGET the "WHOOHOO'S"... That's the first time I've ever heard whoohoo was on the softball field from you! :)))))
ReplyDeleteLearned a lot... loved even more!
Thanks for posting the tribute to the FBC girls' softball team. Those were a great bunch of girls and I felt honored to be on the team. Even though I was old enough to be everyone's mother...you all made me feel like I was important. You were a VERY good player, friend and neighbor. Love you much! Ms. B
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