"Fatherly Love" in the City of Brotherly Love

"Fatherly Love" in the City of Brotherly Love
Today's Story
Little girl's foul toss makes dad a celebrity.
PHILADELPHIA – Dad could not believe his good luck.Steve Monforto made a great grab, catching his first foul ball after years of going to Phillies games. He fist-bumped his buddies, high-fived his 3-year-old daughter and then handed her the prize.
Big mistake.
Little Emily threw the ball over the railing. Stunned by his toddler's toss Tuesday night, all Pop could do was hug her. "I didn't want her to think she did anything wrong," Monforto said on WIP-AM radio Wednesday.
Philly crowds are known for being a tough bunch, but everyone at Citizens Bank Park cheered — first his catch, then his cuddle. "This was the true reflection of what Philly fans are like," said Bonnie Clark, the team's vice president of communications.
Cameras captured the scene of Monforto reaching over the railing and snagging Jayson Werth's foul in the fifth inning against Washington. The video was displayed at the top of the Yahoo! Web page and made the NBC national news. The entire family traveled from their home in Laurel Springs, N.J., to appear on the "Today" show Thursday.
Steve Monforto said he was surprised at the flurry of attention their day at the ballpark has attracted. He said he didn't consider the possibility that Emily might toss his treasure. "At the time I was just excited to give it to her," said Monforto, a season-ticket holder who shares games with friends. "I've been waiting so long to catch a foul ball, and over the edge it goes," he said with a laugh.
Monforto, 32, and his daughter still went home with a baseball, brought to them in the stands by Phillies executive Mike Stiles. On Thursday at the Today Show, they got another ball — this one signed by outfielder Jayson Werth, who hit the foul ball in the fifth inning that made the Monforto family famous. The family of four also received personalized Phillies jerseys.
Story found at www.news.yahoo.comPhoto found at www.images.google.com
God's Story
Malachi 3:10-12 (English Standard Version)
10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. 11I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the LORD of hosts. 12Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the LORD of hosts.
What does God's Story teach us about Fatherly Love?Since I saw Today's Story I have continually asked myself, "What if this little girl wouldn't have thrown that ball back?" That family's world is different today, because little Emily simply thought the ball should go back to it's "rightful owner."
Because she gave up that treasure, look at what they've received ...
A baseball, brought to them in the stands by Phillies executive Mike Stiles
As appearance on the "Today" show
Another ball signed by outfielder Jayson Werth, who hit the foul ball
Personalized Phillies jerseys for the family of four
Throughout God's Story we read about the tithe, or the first ten percent. In Malachi we read that there is a blessing that follows the obedience of giving that tithe. Today, we don't know how God, our Heavenly Father, is going to bless us when we return to Him what is already His. But we do know, that out of His love for us, He will bless us. It doesn't mean we will become rich by society's standards. But it does mean that we will have all that we need. And that is an incredible blessing!
My Story
Connecting My Story to God's Story.
Do you receive a weekly allowance from your parents? Do you have income from a part-time job? If so, have you given any thought to what God's Story says about tithing? If so, great? If not, why not start this weekend. Give ten-percent of whatever you made this week to your home church this weekend.
Are you already tithing? Why not think about going a little beyond that amount this weekend and give an offering to God about your tithe. Ask your parents for some suggestions on where you could give it.
Their Story
Connecting Today's Story, God's Story, and My Story to Their Story.
Ask your friends if they saw or heard about Today's Story. If your friends are following Jesus yet, they may not grasp onto the idea of tithing, but you can use that conversation to ask some of these questions ...
What if you would have been that father? Would you have reacted the same way?
What if you did what that little girl did? Would your father have reacted the same way?
Why do you think the little girl did that?
Move on to share some similarities between God's Story and Today's Story about forgiveness and God's Fatherly Love for His children.