Last night’s game was supposed to be epic as Duke hosted their biggest rival, UNC, in a matchup of two top 10 teams. Everyone was excited to see if UNC could slow down Zion Williamson and wondered if UNC’s veterans could make a difference in a tight game.
Just 33 seconds into the game, everything changed when Zion’s shoe exploded and he awkwardly fell to the ground injuring his knee. Although the potential #1 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft was the main attraction heading into the game, the crowd sadly watched him head to the locker room and never return.
There's no question that Zion is the key reason for the success of Duke’s team this year and the entire gameplan (offensively and defensively) centers around him being out on the floor. So when he went down, Duke looked lost, confused, and dejected without their star player out there.
I totally understand why they would feel that way, but I think they focused way too much on who wasn’t playing rather than who was. It seemed like Duke forgot they still had RJ Barrett on the floor (one of the best players in the country), along with top recruits and fellow freshmen, Cam Reddish and Tre Jones.
Duke couldn't rally without him and they didn't embrace the opportunity in front of them. As a Duke fan, I even admit to overlooking the healthy players because I just wanted to see Zion play.
Unfortunately, we all seemed to forget how awesome watching Duke vs. UNC is. Instead of thinking about who wasn't out there playing, we should have enjoyed watching all of the amazing players on both sides.
How many of us are guilty of having a similar mindset in our own lives? Isn’t it common for us to look past the blessings and opportunities we do have because we’re so focused on what we’re missing? We may look around and realize we still have “great players on the floor,” but then remind ourselves of what we don’t have.
Ultimately, we either live with a thankful heart or an unsatisfied one. We can wake up every day truly grateful for everything God has given us, and the people and things we have in our lives, or we can dwell on what we’re missing. Living with joy or disappointment is a choice only we can make.
These verses in Colossians 3:15-17 (NLT) really encourage us to live with thankfulness:
"And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
"Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom He gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.”
We know how easy it is for UNC fans to be thankful today, but all of us can decide to change our perspective moving forward to be grateful for what we do have instead of sad about what we don't.
The truth is, if we have Jesus, we have everything we need. I’m Bryce Johnson and you can unpack that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, forgive me for being so ungrateful and for overlooking everything You’ve done for me. I pray I’d live a thankful and satisfied life rooted in Jesus. Help me not to worry so much about what is missing from my life, but embrace everything I do have. In the name of Jesus, I pray, Amen.
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