Mets Player Who Was Skewered for Missing Opening Day to See the Birth of His Son Delivers Striking Message About Life's Priorities

The New York Mets player who missed the first two games of the season to witness the birth of his son shared a striking message Monday about life's priorities when it comes to faith, marriage and fatherhood.

"As a man I like to compartmentalize things … what we try to do is we try to take Jesus Christ and we try to put him right in the center of everything," second baseman Daniel Murphy said at a White House event for working dads. "So, instead of, 'I'm a father, I'm a husband, I'm a baseball player,' I just try to take Jesus and put him right in the middle."

Murphy said he isn't perfect: "I fail miserably a lot of times at it, but it is something that has helped us both as we go forward."

Watch a portion of his speech below:

Murphy's speech came after he sparked debate -- and drew the wrath of some sports commentators -- in April when he missed opening day to be present for his son Noah's birth.

In an interview with NBC's "Today" on Monday, he said that missing the birth was never a consideration and that his fellow Mets players supported him.

"That never crossed, I don’t think, my mind or her mind," Murphy said.

Watch the player discuss his paternity leave below: