Life is not easy. Life does not guarantee that after much work, we will see results quickly or really at all. That's life and that is the reason many of us quit before we get to see success. That happens in relationships, in business and in our personal pursuits. There are no guarantees.
But every so often we are encouraged and empowered by someone who stayed in the fight and got to see what they wanted. This is true with Andre Ingram. If you are a sports fan you already know his story, if you are not you need to.
Mr. Ingram is a 32 year old man who just walked into what he has been working towards for years. He always wanted to play in the NBA, but it was not happening. He played in what is called the G-league. The older he got, the less likely it seemed that his dream would ever come into fruition. But after 10 years of playing in other leagues, watching his family deal with financial challenges , thinking maybe overseas was the plan, he stayed in his lane and kept pushing towards what he wanted. It is hard enough to push towards something when the end result is in your hands, it is another thing to push forward when the decision is not on you, but on someone else; someone who is busy and may not even notice your work or your sacrifice. But don't give up!
After years of hoping, working and keeping the prize in mind, he was contacted by the LA Lakes and asked to play in their final games: and BOY DID HE PLAY! You will have to look him up to see the scoring and game that he brought that day! It was as if he finally got to show people what was in him all along, and he did.
Many times we get discouraged because it doesn't seem that people really see the gift in us, or the purpose that we are pursuing. Don't be moved by that. Be moved by the fact that you have the gift, and it will make room for you....eventually. In the mean time, make room for yourself. Find places to use your gift, create opportunities to bless others and when your time comes.... don't hold back! That is not the time to get an attitude about how long it took, that is not the time to negotiate yourself out of an opportunity, that is the time to LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE! Once you have been given your day on the stage, it is time to move over and give God all the glory! I really was inspired by this story and if you look him up, you will be too. In the meantime, here are a few lessons I got from Mr, Andre Ingram:
Lessons From Andre
1) Don't give up on your dream or what God has shown you.
2) Keep your skills current by using them wherever you can, be a blessing every day.
3) When your time comes.... SHINE! Stay humble but bring it all and leave it all!
4) Always give God glory, in the good times or bad, because He is always WORTHY!
As far as Mr. Ingram and his family are concerned, we don't know where this path will lead, how long he will enjoy this journey, but that's LIFE... there are no guarantees. But one thing for sure, the lessons we can learn from this are epic.
2 Timothy 4:2 "Be prepared in season and out of season.."
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