It started out so amazing

sitting in the Nail salon and the TV was on
I am not a big football fan, but my family know all about it
So sometimes I listen up so I am not too much  in the dark..
...and I don't watch TV at home

So, I was a little distracted from my book, when the screen showed pictures of a trophy winner football hero.

The audio was soft but I heard enough to know he had a beautiful wife, Mechelle, and two sons that loved him.

His life started out very simple. His father left the family of 5 boys, in a ramshackle house in Mississippi, his mother working very hard to take care of her family.   He was very close to his mother and family. Stayed close as an adult.

He was the star for the Titans and the Ravens and went to the Super Bowl and...
Well, he was an amazing football player.

Pictures on the screen confirmed a gifted football player.  A quarterback to be exact.  A major player in the teams success.

Not on the screen, but goes without saying, this man earned a great deal.  Not just fame, and trophies, but money.

Then on the screen, a cemetery.  This story is taking place now, 10 years after his death.

Wait.... why is the technician changing the channel....I am looking right at him and he is looking at the screen and holding the remote and now.... one of those infomercials.  A probiotic organic super food.  Green.... much more information than I want to know , but he leaves it there.

So, home I go, to google I go and find out the end of the story.

Not a happy ending.  Naturally, when  death is involved it is not happy.
This was a murder. A double murder.
This man, had a girlfriend 15 years his junior and ..... she shot him and then took her own life,
 on the 4th of July 2009


Now, 10 years later his wife is able to talk about it publicly.     
And you can google it and find out all the details too.
With just three names listed above, you can find out more than you want or need to know

And why..
why am I writing about this ?
I will tell you why.   Here is a man, gifted beyond most, loving wife and family, big paychecks, fame, honor.....  and he blows it.

I am gifted in very little, but God has gifted us all.  I have a loving family.  No big  paychecks. No fame.  No honor....but I am thankful and blessed and
praying I will never need such a shocking reminder of the value of life

I had never heard his name before.  But, I don't think I will ever forget it.
And that is sad.



Thankful to live in America
Celebrated with family
this 4th of July,  in a small town with a very fun parade and many happy children watching and content with a few pieces of candy from the marching clowns.

God has blessed America

God has blessed me