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