 |
|
An
Outreach Publication of the Church of Christ at
Creekwood |
|
Real Perspective In many ways, Matt Bryant was the hero of the day for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The kicker booted three field goals to help the Buccaneers beat the Green Bay Packers, 30-21, last Sunday in Tampa. Bryant kicked field goals of 23 and 36 yards in the second quarter of the game. Then, with 2:26 left to go in the game, he kicked a 24-yarder to put the Bucs ahead for good. But
Bryant’s performance wasn’t just about winning the
game; he had another motive.
He was
performing for his son... “Today was his day. It was all about Tryson for me,” Bryant said. “I talked with him, personally, in my head throughout the game. I just wanted to remind him that he’s my baby boy and that he’s with me all the time.” On Wednesday, September 24, Matthew Tryson Bryant, three-month-old son of Matt and Melissa Bryant, died in his sleep. Tryson’s mother had gotten his five brothers and sister up for the day, and when she went in to check on Tryson. She discovered that he wasn’t breathing. Tryson’s funeral was held last Saturday in Texas. The following day, although his heart was heavy with grief, Bryant chose to fill his role for the Buccaneers. “The biggest thing for me [was that] I wanted to honor Tryson’s name,” Bryant said. “I mean, I don’t think it was very fair for his life to end so short. This is the best way I believe I could get out and honor him. I miss him and wish he was here, but he was here with me. He helped me out.” On
the day of Tryson’s death, Tampa Bay Coach Jon
Gruden remarked, “This put things in real
perspective!
”* You and I gain a “real perspective” on life when we are able to distinguish between those things that are TEMPORAL (all that is in the world) and those things that are ETERNAL (things spiritual). Please read 2 Corinthians 4:17 – 5:6. “The world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:17). Because of His great love for us, God sent His Son, Jesus, to die for our sins that we may live with him eternally (Romans 6:23). Those who believe in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins may look forward to eternal life with great hope. Each of us has a perspective on life, but is it focused on those things that are MOST important, upon those things which are ETERNAL? “Set your mind on things above” (Colossians 3:2) by accepting the gift of God’s grace on His terms. Won’t you? -- David A. Sargent, Minister Church
of Christ at Creekwood * Information gleaned from David Whitley of The Orlando Sentinel in “Matt Bryant Honors Infant Son with Class, Victory” and Rick Stroud of the St. Petersburg Times in “Son of Bucs Kicker Bryant Dies” in www.tampabay.com To Subscribe to "Living Water" send a blank e-mail to:
HTML version: subscribe-livingwater@lyris.dundee.net Follow this link to locate the church of Christ nearest you: www.churchzip.com Archived issues of "Living Water" can be accessed from our website at: www.creekwoodcc.org
|