Do you ever wonder what could have been? I mean, have you ever had a life changing experience, and look back and wonder what could have been? I have, and I wonder "what if" quite a bit.
I played basketball for as long as I can remember. It was my life, and I planned on playing until the good Lord wouldn't let me anymore. I just didn't realize it would be sooner than I had thought.
When I was 14, in the 9th grade, I was already receiving college recruit letters! I was very excited about going to play college ball at one particular college, 6 hours away from home! I got a letter in the mail saying that since it was a "certain time of the year" they had to quit contact with me, but would pick up when I was older. That day never came.
When I was 16, I had a bad car accident. I was late for curfew and it was pouring down rain. I was on the dirt road to my house, hit red clay, fishtailed, and as any inexperienced driver would do, I hit the brakes. I learned the hard way, that's not what you do. I hit a tree head on, which threw me on my side, and had me skidding back the way I came. My hand skidded along with the van, the glass, and the gravel. To this day, I thank God that not only am I alive, but that I still have my left hand, and all 5 digits. I almost lost 3 of them!
After that, my basketball skills went down the drain. Even though I am right handed, I could no longer use my left hand the way I used to. I also had to miss pre-season practice seeing as my accident was during the summer.
I never heard from another college wanting me to come play ball for them, and I sometimes wonder, what if.
What if: I had been driving slower.
What if: I had left for home earlier.
What if: I had I had never left home that evening.
What if, what if, what if...
When all those "what ifs" start running through my head, I take a break and realize where I am today. I am married to the man that I met when I was 16 and working at the local retail chain. We have two beautiful kids, and I love my life! I couldn't be happier! If all those "what ifs" had happened...I wouldn't have all of this wonderful life. Plus, I can't really think of where I would be now...after college had ended!
So the moral of this story: Don't focus on all the "what ifs" in life, focus on the "what are's", they are what matters!
Amen girl!!!! I often have the same thoughts! I remember playing you in ball and you were amazing!! You know sometimes God takes us by the hands and leads us to places we are so unsure of!! We don't know why, we don't know the purpose of his leading, but he does. I often wonder "what if" Bethanie wouldn't have gotten the door open, if I had not laid down with her. And then like you I realize that I came to know the Lord Jesus as my personal saviour as a result of loosing Bethanie. One life was taken and two were saved. God knew where I was headed and I think that he knew that Bethanie was the angel that was going to change that. Thank you for this post Shauna...got my mind to thinking and I needed that!!!!!
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