Loving You
Gene Allen Groner
Author of over 50 books and biographies. Writer of memoirs and articles for Daily Bread, Herald, and Veterans' Voices magazine
Loving You
Buck O'Neil was a baseball hero. He was a first baseman and manager of the Kansas City Monarchs, which later became the Kansas City Royals. His contributions to baseball spanned eight decades. The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum honored his legacy in 2008 with the creation of the Buck O'Neil Lifetime Achievement Award. On June 30, 2006 he gave the Induction Ceremony speech at the Baseball Hall of Fame. It is a speech I will never forget. You can still view and hear it on YouTube. At the close of his seven-minute speech, he sang this simple song: "The greatest thing in all my life is loving you. The greatest thing in all my life is loving you. The greatest thing in all my life is loving you. The greatest thing in all my life is loving you." Everyone listening was touched by his humor, his graciousness, his humility, and his genuine love for all people.
Jesus said we must love one another as he loves us, and that others would know we are his disciples by our love. If you ever wonder about your purpose for being here on this earth, know this: We are here to learn to receive the love of God and to share his love with those he places in our path. Those who learn this lesson and practice it daily in their lives will be filled with joy and live forever in the Kingdom of Heaven. Remember, "the greatest thing in all my life is loving you."