Whenever major league baseball player Curt Schilling pitches, he writes his dad’s name on the free-ticket list for that game. It’s a practice he started in 1988, and he says it will continue as long as he plays the game.

This wouldn’t be all that unusual, except that a few months before Curt’s major league debut his dad died of cancer. Putting his father’s name on that list is an ongoing tribute to the man who for 22 years provided guidance, instruction, encouragement, and inspiration.

Just as Curt Schilling’s dad gave him the incentive to succeed in baseball, so we need to instill in our children the knowledge, desire, and wisdom to succeed in the arena of faith. Nothing is more important than to spend time building into our children the skills to do right in God’s eyes.

Asa, who was loyal to God (1 Ki. 15:11), must have imparted that quality to his son, because Jehoshaphat “walked in all the ways of his father Asa” (22:43).

We must lead our children to Christ and encourage them to let Him be the Lord of their lives. This may never make them prominent like a great athlete, but it will help them “run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Heb. 12:1). And that’s the only competition that matters.

  — Dave Branon