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