Part one in the story is HERE!
Part two in the story is HERE!

After several weeks of training with coach Franklin, Johnny Henderson was still stuck in some bad baseball habits. He was keeping his eye on the ball, but he loved to swing for the fences every time the ball was thrown, and that meant getting a few strikes. The coach would sit down with him and go over exactly what to do, but when the time came, Johnny would go with what felt right for him and would end up striking out.

One game, Johnny was getting ready to head to the batters box, and coach Franklin said to him “Now Johnny, we need you to get a walk, so whatever happens, don’t swing.” Johnny looked up at his coach and said “you got it!”

But when the first pitch was thrown, Johnny thought to himself “I can hit this!” and swung for it with all his might…Strike one!

“Okay okay, bad idea” Johnny said to himself. “I’ll do what coach said…but that pitcher looks like he’s about to throw a knuckleball…I can hit that…”…Strike two!

“I can do this!” Johnny said as he slapped his helmet, trying to knock some sense into himself. “I just need to hold still and let the ball go right past…OOH A CURVE BALL, I GOT THIS!”…Strike three! “You’re out!” the umpire yelled.

Johnny felt horrible, but then he turned to coach Franklin and he saw his coach look very disappointed in him. He had let down his coach and his team. Johnny slowly walked back to the bench and hung his head low until the game was over. As the other players headed to the locker room to get changed, Johnny didn’t move. Eventually coach Franklin came over and sat by him.

“Johnny do you know what happened when Peter was asked about his faith in Jesus?”

Johnny thought for a moment before shaking his head.

“He said he didn’t even know who Jesus was.” Coach Franklin said, pulling out his worn out pocket New Testament and turning to Luke 22:54-62. “He was scared to tell others he was friends with Jesus, and so he denied Him three times. On the third time, Jesus looked at Peter right as he was denying him. Peter felt horrible.”

Johnny wasn’t feeling much better, but thankfully his coach wasn’t done. Coach Franklin flipped over to John 21:15-17. “Jesus didn’t give up on Peter, though. He still saw his potential, and helped Peter to realize that he loved Jesus more than anything else. In fact Peter told the Lord he loved him three different times, one for each of the times he had denied Him.”

Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest’s house. And Peter followed afar off.
And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.
But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.
And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not.
And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not.
And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean.
And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.
And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.

Luke 22:54-62

 

So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

John 21:15-17

We’re not perfect and we’ll make mistakes. But if we tell Jesus we’re sorry and we try to change, He will forgive us every time (way more than three!), no matter what.