THE KINDNESS OF MARIANO RIVERA

Usually when you’ve done just about everything in your life, you sit back with your family and reflect.

You hug your kids tight, your wife alittle tighter and you look around at what was accomplished.  You know right then, you’ve climbed and conquered the mountain in life and now… now it’s time to relax.

Well, that’s about 85% of us. The other 15% are like Mariano Rivera.  It doesn’t stop at the mountain top, because there are more mountains to climb.  I get teary eyed thinking about how wonderful and kind this man is.

I was reading Associated Press and they printed the following:

“Rivera spoke Wednesday during a telephone conference call to promote a two-game exhibition series between the Yankees and Miami Marlins at Panama City on March 15-16. Rivera said he won't pitch in the games, which are being played to benefit the Mariano Rivera Foundation. Proceeds from a gala dinner will go to Children's Hospital in Panama City.

‘I'm a little bit down because I would have loved to participate and compete while I was playing,' Rivera said. ‘I would have loved my people to see me play down there in Panama. But at the same time, I'm happy that the team is going there. Hopefully this will be the opening of doors so Panama can host some baseball, real baseball games during the season down in Panama.'

Rivera has been spending time working with his church and community groups.

‘I'm doing exactly what I love to do,' he said. ‘Definitely I miss it. I'm not going to lie to you. I do miss baseball. But I need my family, too. I'm fine.'”

It doesn’t end for Mo. Sure, you can call him a workaholic. I call him a visionary. I call it initiative.  His foundation is strong right now and he’s giving back, something that’s important to him.  Mariano is building churches in Panama for a community he grew up in.  He’s helping bring a community together, hopefully getting the money he needs through donations to keep people believing in their communities.  It’s an eye opener and I applaud this great man.

But it doesn't end there either.  In New Rochelle, he's helping to save another church. The New York Daily News has this one. Good work Wayne Coffey:

"The greatest relief pitcher in history could’ve been in Clearwater, Fla., on Thursday, wearing No. 42 and making millions of dollars and preparing for another season of exemplary closing.

But that is not where Mariano Rivera wanted to be.

This is where he wanted to be, on North Ave. in New Rochelle, weeping with gratitude at the wonders of the Lord, at the glory of the house of worship before him, making the ultimate save in a career that has been full of them.

The church is called Refugio de Esperanza (Refuge of Hope), and Mariano’s wife, Clara, is its pastor and it is so much more than a magnificent stone building church to Mariano Rivera; it is a calling he has devoted years of his life and millions of his dollars to.

'It wasn’t me. It was the Lord. I was just the vehicle,' Rivera said."


Simply an incredible individual.

I just wanted to share these stories.  There are so many stories out there about selfishness and tragedy. Mariano is making a difference.  How do you not fall in love with this guy?

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