Hello everyone.. I’m blogging from my backyard this morning, very pleased to be getting some rest and relaxation! I love being able to wake up, get some French vanilla coffee, my bible, and go read a little bit to start my day. These days are priceless, no hustle and bustle, just me, Cody, and the birds in my backyard, its serene. Although most days I try to read a few scriptures in the morning, it sets in motion my actions and attitude for the rest of the day, great way to start any day!!
And since today I’m not thinking about basketball (sometimes your mind needs a break as much as your body) I wanted to blog about a question that I received on a radio station the other day.
A fan from New Jersey, I think her name was Sam, so hi to her. I wanted to expand on your question a bit more in regards to Michael Vick. So you had asked me how I would feel or handle the situation of being his teammate?? So I wanted to actually expand a bit on the aspect of teammates and of a team in general.
A team is like a family… you fight, you cry, you laugh, you respect, you make memories together, you help each other crawl out of valleys, you push each other to get to the mountain tops, you serve each other, you enable, you encourage, you teach, you listen, you breath in the breath taking views of success, but most importantly you love. Now, I’m not saying this is the norm, it’s the exception, and the principles cross over into life. I try to live my life like this.. It’s not a perfect picture, but there’s beauty in the mysteries that I don’t understand. And I can’t tell you exactly why or how everything works, but I can tell you forgiveness is a blessing to the person that forgives, not necessarily for the person you are forgiving. So with Mr. Vick, he made some awful mistakes, and he’s asked that the public, his family, and I’m sure that if he’s asked the general public to forgive him, I’d assume he’s also asked God to forgive him.. I do.
He’s paid his price, and I believe in second chances. I hope he goes on to have a fantastic career, and I hope he can learn to forgive himself along the way.
I know I’m guilty of doing or saying something really stupid/careless, and in hindsight saying, “Gosh Becky that was really a foolish thing to do/say”. I’ve had to apologize for stupid things that I’ve done or said. Forgiving yourself is often the greatest blessing of all. I know I’m a pretty harsh critic of myself. I’m somewhat of a perfectionist, and we are all free to live and breathe and laugh once we realize we’ll never be perfect, but the refining of becoming a better me is most often found in the process of failing and getting back up to try again.
Let’s allow not only Michael Vick, but our family members, our friends a little freedom to fail, and a lot of freedom to succeed. We all need to take self inventory sometimes, and give a truthful analysis if we’re holding onto anything that may poison our own souls.
I believe un-forgiveness and jealousy might be the two most damaging bags the soul has to deal with. These two diseases have no room in my life, or my team, they’re destructive!!
A positive outlook on life goes a long way. Instead of wasting your energy wishing bad things on others, and wondering why nothing good happens for you, wish and speak positive things to and about other people (not just yourself) and watch how great and wonderful things start happening for you! Don’t drink the HATERADE!! You don’t want to carry around that baggage! So cut your soul a break and choose to forgive when it’s not easy, then you lose your own soul to breath.
Wow!!!! You really put things in perspective sometimes Beck. I’m almost speechless! <3 Thanks sooo much for that!
Wow, that’s pretty good. We need those reminders to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Thanks and many blessings to you and your family.
You are right
Nobody is perfect even though they look or live that way , Mr Vick derserves the same set of Rules of Forgiveness we all tend to follow in Life and I hope people especially who lives he has affected can forgive him .and remember if God wanted people to be perfect he would have never put the Snake in the Garden 
You dont know how much I needed to hear that, its surprises me sometimes how God uses people and even things to talk to us and get our attention. You wrote that very well… Thanks Becky
God Bless
“I believe unforgiveness and jealousy might be the two most damaging bags the soul has to deal with” Well said. People need to realize , if they die carrying a grudge for someone GOD has forgiven, they are putting their own salvation at risk. “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” On my judgment day, the last name I want to come up in our conversation is Michael Vick.
oh.. Becky.. All I can say – you are the great philosopher! Everything that you speak is a true. Your thoughts are so deep, they gives power to change the relations to people and itself. Thank you for it! It’s awesome!
By the way, I want to tell to you “thanks” for that literature which you have given to us in Moscow. Separate thanks that it was in Russian. It was easier to read and understand that you wished to inform to us. We appreciate and we don’t forget everything that you do for us.
Godbless you more and more!
Thanks for the introspection, Becky. I agree with you. We have to want the good things for another more than we want them for ourselves. Such a great attitude is the foundation for personal happiness. It’s all about how we arrange our minds.
Hello Becky!! I’m glad to see that you are enjoying your day off..it is well deserved! You just continue to play your best basketball. I just stopped by to say I also enjoyed readin this blog. I really wish others can take and use this as a reality check and quit being so judgemental and harsh to one another. I agree with you on second chances because yes we are not all perfect but tend to try and be around others but we need to instead think ahead for our futures like you stated and think success, not failure. Your words becky are sooo powerful and I believe everything you say because they are true, and because I’m your #1 fan..hehe just kidding you are a very intelligent woman so keep inspiring us to do our very best!! Good Luck the rest of our amazing season!! GO STARS!!!
Thank you Becky. I couldn’t have put it better myself.
Really wonderful blog. Still, I do love dogs so much and even though I might forgive his stupidity it still seems that this man did something that might still equire some real sacrifice on his part to make good. Missing a couple years in the limelight and then going on as if nothing had happened does cheapen the life of those incredible sentient beings somehow. It would make me feel better if he were to donate half his earnings to humane societies for example.
What does Cody think of all this Becky? (I assume Cody is your dog. What happened to “Trey” -I believe that was his name)
Wow! Wow is all I have to say. All of that blog is totally true. Michael Vick really does deserve to be forgiven and I know for SURE that God forgives him. Thanks for standing up so much in your faith becky! Your an inspiration to me and how I can live my life playing basketball and using it as a platform for Christ!
Why should Michael Vick get a second chance?, those dogs he killed aren’t getting a second chance at life, he is a bad man, bottom line.
That was a really great blog! You truly have a way with words.
Michael Vick served his time. He should get another chance at employment; but should it be at the highest level of professional football? It seems to me that part of the learning is starting from the bottom.
However, I believe his crime revealed something worse than a mistake. It uncovered a character defect that can’t be changed, only concealed. It is one thing to rob someone, or to drive drunk, or to break drug laws. Those are mistakes.
But to strangle a dog with your bare hands? Who can do that? Michael Vick revealed something evil inside himself with that action.
Thank you for tackling this difficult topic. You reveal your depth of character on and off the court.
hello becky…wow that was a really good blog you wrote there. I agree with you no one is perfect and every one desvers a second chance. I am glad that you enjoyed your day off. you are awsome player and i enjoy watching you and your teammates play basketball. thanks for that blog it was really good..MAY GOD KEEP YOU AND YOUR FAMILY SAFE..GOD BLESS. GO STARS GO
I agree with you 100%!
I love your choice of words as well.
I have to tell my own story. When I was a kid, my dad was in the military and we were living in Panama from the time I was three until I was six years old. When it came to leave Panama, for some reason, Prissy, our beloved family dog, just was no longer around. My parents told me that she had run away. I just could not believe it, it hurt so much that she would run away. My friend that slept in my bed, that was my constant, loyal friend.
We left Panama and I was still looking for my precious Prissy. I looked for her, in a way, all my life until six months ago (I’m in my 40s now) when my mom (dad died ten years ago) told me that they had actually given her to the neighbors and instead of telling me the truth they told me that my best, precious friend, “ran away.”
For the first time in my adult life I can actually have a pet again. I can forgive my dad and my mom and I can love again.
I think Becky has the right idea. In the local paper where I live (San Diego) they quoted the judge in the case and the NFL commissioner as basically stating that Mr. Vick is getting a second chance but will be “walking a very thin line. It won’t take much to screw up.” So let’s let him succeed or fail on his own accord. We don’t need to help shove him off that line.
You, Cody, and the birds sounds great… I’m thinking when I retire I’m going to get a dog and just travel, towing my home behind me. North America will be my backyard!
I like the way you think, Becky. I wish you peace and happiness!
All people must have another chance at employment