IF

     This past week I was thinking about a word. A word that has only two letters. A word that we all use in our vocabulary on a daily basis. Unfortunately, it can also be a word we use when we second guess ourselves or think about what we could have done to avoid a mistake we have made in our lives. I hope it is not a word that you dwell on or think about constantly. Yes! It is the word you are staring at that is on the top page of this blog...IF! 

     I would have to say for many years I used that word ALOT! There were so many times I second guessed myself about decisions I have made but I then realize you can't change the past and redo whatever has taken place in your life. The dictionary definition of the word IF is "on the condition of

" or despite the possibility that." I was recently watching 2 sports documentaries. One was about the famous basketball player Michael Jordan. Although I grew up as a huge basketball fan in the 1970's and loved watching the New York Knicks play on TV, I have lost a lot of nterest in the NBA. As a kid my room was even decorated with NBA curtains and a bedspread but lately I couldn't even tell you who plays for the Knicks. This documentary ws about the 1984 NBA draft when teams draft college players. The documentary was called "What if." The first three picks in the draft were the Houston Rockets, The Portland Trailblazers and the Chicago Bulls. The Houston Rockets picked first and chose a highly touted and amazing center by the name of Hakeem Olajuwan. He went on to win 2 NBA championships and was an amazing player. The Portland Trailblazers had the next pick and they had a chance to draft in my opinion the greatest basketball player of all time, Michael Jordan. Instead, they chose a guy by the name of Sam Bowie who had an okay career but certainly not a career like Michael Jordan. The story goes on to say that Sam Bowie hid an injury from the Trailblazers and never won a championship with any team. Of course we all know Michael Jordan had an amazing NBA career in Chicago, he had a famous sneaker named after him and he won 6 NBA titles all in Chicago. He broke the Knicks back every year in the playoff's. So what would have happened IF Portland chose Michael Jordan? Maybe Portland would have has multiple championships? Maybe history would have changed? I'm sure the owners and General manager of the Trailblazers kicked themselves for not selecting Michael Jordan. I'm sure they had many sleepless nights!

     Another documentary I watched was about the 1983 NFL draft. That was the year several quarterbacks were selected. The first pick in the draft was a player named John Elway who was selected by the Baltimore Colts but then traded to the Denver Broncos. The one team that made a huge mistake was the New York Jets. I know Jets fans are happy now that the have Aaron Rogers but back in 1983 they had an opportunity to select an amazing quarterback named Dan Marino. The Jets being the Jets selected a player named Ken O'Brien. WHO? Dan Marino was selected by the Miami Dolphins and although he never won a championship he did play in one Super Bowl. So what IF th New York Jets selected Dan Marino. Maybe just maybe they would be playing in a Super Bowl and not still be waiting to play in one. The last time they played in a Super Bowl I was 4 years old and today I have gray hair! What IF?

     Lately, I have made my what IF questions into what NOW! I don't second guess myself anymore and I wake up each day saying "Thank you God for ALL you have given to me! Let's make this an amazing day together!" I can't change what happened to me on March 31, 1977 or October 9, 1984 (Those re just random dates). I have to look at 2023, 2024, 2025 and beyond until the Good Lord calls me home.

     So, what IF? Naaaa....What Now sounds better. God has great plans for us! We just need to obey Him and live for Him every day! 

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!! BE SAFE EVERYONE!!         .