When I arrived in New York in the early 1980s, my first sports hero was baseball star Darryl Strawberry, a tall, slim yet strong outfielder for the New York Mets. I followed his every swing, which led him to hit 335 career homeruns, 1000 RBIs, earn three World Series rings (1 with NY Mets, and 2 with NY Yankees.) After 17 seasons in Major League Baseball, he has shared how his faith has helped him turn his life around and provided him much joy and strength. In his book Turn Your Season Around: How God Transforms Your Life, the former baseball star explains how rediscovering his faith allowed him to find the right path in life. This well-known baseball hero explained how his former life of fame and fortune led him down the wrong path. Despite all the material wealth, something was still missing. In fact, Strawberry explains, “inside I was broken.” He goes on to acknowledge his mom’s role in his transformation. As a very devout Christian, she felt her son was “lost in sin.” While many parents may wish to pray for their child’s continued outward success, Strawberry shared that his mom prayed that “God would knock me off my throne.” In finding his faith, Strawberry describes this as a victory for his mom: even though it was something she only got to witness in her eternal life. Yet, this victory is one that has brought so much joy to the sportsman. He now travels the country preaching the Gospel and his infectious love of God. In growing close to God, Strawberry has found that he gains strength in the joy of the Lord. And this ultimately has given him freedom inside, far from the baseball field and his former life of sin. In this video he talks about his life transformation and his discovery of his faith in Jesus.
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