| I've never really been a basketball fan,
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| | the vision to see good and to find new
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| but since the Dallas Mavericks were in
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| | opportunities -- even peace of mind, and
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| the championship series, my Texas pride
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| | yes, joy. Her faith-inspired point of
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| made me watch. With each agonizing game
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| | view led us to a new home in a new city,
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| (specifically the last four), I
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| | a career for her and a new life for both
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| remembered why I'm not a basketball fan
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| | of us.My memory of those childhood days
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| -- the game seems filled with unfair foul
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| | is not of lack, uncertainty or fear. I
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| calls. I know I sound like a sore loser
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| | never even thought of myself as homeless
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| -- and I am. My Texas pride may be acting
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| | or poor.I suppose I could look at my
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| up again!Still, even though I screamed
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| | childhood experience with regret. But
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| out my frustrations over what I
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| | those days for me were a great gift -- a
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| considered unfair calls, I also yelled
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| | lesson in how to beat the odds. How to
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| for the boys to step up their game. I
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| | overcome the insurmountable. How to begin
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| encouraged them to do a better job at
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| | anew when all is lost. How to find
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| making their shots, rebounding and so
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| | something good in every moment.I learned
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| forth. Even if some foul calls were
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| | that a different outlook can change the
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| bogus, I still believed they had the
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| | course of our lives. We have to take
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| ability to win the games.Now that the
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| | responsibility for our thoughts and
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| series is over, I'm reflecting on how the
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| | actions every moment. Mary Baker Eddy
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| game of basketball is sometimes like our
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| | wisely advised, "Your decisions will
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| lives. Or at least like my life.Many
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| | master you, whichever direction they
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| times I've felt life was unfair -- like
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| | take." And she encouraged again and again
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| nothing was going my way. And in those
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| | to, "Stand porter at the door of
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| times anger, disappointment and
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| | thought."We can do this because God gives
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| depression victimized me: Poor me. "It
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| | us the ability and the strength to govern
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| wasn't my fault." "I didn't have a
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| | our lives in harmony and peace.After I
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| choice." "There was nothing I could do
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| | married, my greatest battle with what I
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| about the cards I was dealt but to accept
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| | considered the unfairness of life began
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| them and suffer through it."Fortunately,
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| | when our daughter was two years old. We
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| my mama taught me a lesson long ago that
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| | were ready to continue growing our
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| has helped me learn how to pull myself up
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| | family. But more children didn't arrive.
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| from what feels like life's unfair
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| | Year after year, I struggled with
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| dealings.The lesson, or storm of events,
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| | disappointment and depression, as well as
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| began one September evening when I was
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| | anger and frustration. My mantra was,
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| ten years old. It wasn't a hurricane or a
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| | "Why me, Lord?"I can't say that I
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| tornado. But it was equally devastating
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| | overcame my struggle as quickly as I wish
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| and for me, and just as sudden.I was
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| | I had. But as I learned in my childhood,
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| taking my bath, getting ready for bed,
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| | it would require a new outlook to move my
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| when my mama unexpectedly came through
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| | life forward. As it turns out, a grateful
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| the door. She promptly whisked me out of
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| | heart was imperative. My love and desire
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| the tub to make a quick escape from her
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| | for children didn't end. And children did
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| bitter and angry ex-husband -- my dad. He
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| | come into my life -- just in a different
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| hadn't been able to accept the divorce.
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| | way than I had expected. I became a
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| My mama had been warned by a relative
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| | kindergarten teacher. And not long after
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| that he was on his way to our place with
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| | that, my teenage niece came to live with
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| violent intentions.There was no time to
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| | us.I've concluded God does answer our
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| pack, so we left with what little could
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| | prayers -- just not always in the way we
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| be grabbed in a flash. I was never to see
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| | outline. When I'm certain of God's
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| my home or my dad again.For the months
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| | ever-presence, I'm able to respond to
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| that followed, we were homeless with
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| | whatever comes my way, calmly and
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| little money.Many have asked my mama what
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| | confidently assured of God's
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| enabled her to survive those times. I
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| | directing.And God is always directing. I
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| suppose some might call it a "can-do"
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| | just can't hear Him very well while
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| spirit. Perhaps a positive attitude.
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| | whining about life being unfair. But when
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| Maybe a cheerful outlook. Or a
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| | I stop whining, I see the solutions and
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| "never-give-up" perspective. My mama
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| | new opportunities that God is providing
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| could never be brought down -- for long,
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| | that enable me to overcome and succeed in
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| anyway.I can only explain that it had
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| | spite of what might seem like the "unfair
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| something to do with her faith -- her
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| | fouls" of life.Annette Bridges is a
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| faith in a new concept of God that she
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| | Religion & Spirituality columnist for
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| was learning. A God that is good and
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| | United Press International and lives on a
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| omnipotent. A loving God who will steer
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| | north Texas ranch with her husband, John.
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| His children safely amid any storm. A God
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| | For the past 25 years, she has been a
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| who has given His children the ability to
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| | student of Christian Science, the method
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| prove evil powerless. A God who sent His
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| | of healing explained in Mary Baker Eddy's
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| son, Christ Jesus, to teach us how.Her
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| | book, "Science and Health with Key to the
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| faith-filled outlook gave us hope. And
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| | Scriptures.
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| her faith-filled perspective brought us
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|
