The Choices We Make

This was our underlying theme today at our church. We make choices in what we choose to eat or what we choose to do. The example that was used at church was given if we work late and we forget to call our spouse then you suffer the consequences.

With the choices that the former KU players made (Mario Chalmers and Darrell Arthur) the past week regarding of breaking the rules to Darnell Jackson, who stuck it out despite his circumstances it made me think about a lot of things.

Here was Mario and Darrell choosing to break the rules of a NBA rookie camp by having girls in the room, when they weren't supposed to. Then being accused of smoking marijuana. You think of the type of behavior that they chose. If you choose good choices then you choose to right things. Bad choices lead to bad consequences. Chalmers and Arthur were dismissed from camp and were fined $20,000 a piece!! That's quite a chunk of money if you think about it. (It's a huge chunk to me). If they just would have made right choices, their good name could have been upheld and they would have continued on in the camp.

Darnell Jackson had bad things happenning all around his life. His dad was killed; his grandmother died in a car accident; he had a cousin who was killed because of gangs; a family friend gave him money (violation of the rules) and he has since paid the friend back. Everything was crashing down around Darnell. He even thought about giving up and not continuing his education. He was down and needed a father figure. His coach and mentor, Bill Self, was there for him. He helped Darnell make the right choice. Darnell worked hard as not only a basketball player and role model for other kids but he stayed in school and graduated. He made the right choice.

Upon making good choices, Darnell chose to write to the fans about their support of him. He thanked them and how grateful he was for finishing school. How thankful that his life was turning around.

People make choices all the time in life. But when you make the good choice then you will thrive. Your light will shine bright.