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