We all know what the headlines involve these days. The times in which we now live are indeed difficult ones. That is why headlines like the following are so significant: “Titans’ Kevin Byard Buys ‘Forever Home’ For Mother: ‘Stuff Like This Is A Pipe Dream’”. The article appeared on www.foxnews.com late last week (May 29, 2020).
According to the reporter, Pauline Dedaj, “Tennessee Titans’ Kevin Byard isn’t just one of the top safeties in the NFL - he’s also a great son.” The article then goes on to recount how Byard took to social media to share a personal moment with fans, in which he revealed that his former “pipe dream” of buying his mom a home has finally become a reality.
Byard, via twitter, is quoted as having said, “When you come from where I come from, stuff like this is a pipe dream that only a few are able to accomplish. I hate that we couldn’t be there but I’m more happy that everything worked itself out. I love you mom and enjoy your new forever home! ❤️”
Apparently, the young man’s dream to buy his mom a home was made easier after he recently became the highest paid safety in NFL history. Having been a third round draft pick in 2016, Byard was then selected for the Pro Bowl and named First-Team All-Pro in his second year.
After finishing last season with 84 tackles, nine pass deflections, and five interceptions, the talented and hard-working player signed a $70.5 million contract extension, making him second in annual salaries behind the Chicago Bears' Eddie Jackson, according to www.overthecap.com.
Kudos to this young man! He clearly worked hard to get where he is; and he deserves all he receives as a result. But what impresses me the most is that he now chooses to turn part of that personal reward into a blessing for others whom he obviously loves very dearly.
For my part, none of my three children is a professional athlete with a phenomenal salary package. Accordingly, I do not necessarily expect that I will be given a “forever home” from any of them, at least not any time soon. But I am completely okay with that. I love them all dearly and am so proud of them just as they are. What is more, I have already been blessed with comfortable home in which to live.
Besides all this, I already have a “forever home” that has been prepared for me. It was made possible for me by a very special Son – only not my Son, but God’s Son. And the home He has prepared for me is quite a place.
The writer of the New Testament Book of Hebrews (chapter 11, verse 10) refers to a place “designed and built by God”. Revelation chapter 21 describes it in great detail. And Jesus Himself spoke of this place in the New Testament Gospel of John (chapter 14, verses 1-4), when He said:
1“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God a ; believe also in me. 2My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4You know the way to the place where I am going.”
That is the place that will be my “forever home”; and I cannot wait to see it, and to dwell in it. But I am not alone. What Christ has done for me, He has done for everyone, including you, my friend. Listen to what the next two verses in John, chapter 14 record:
5Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Do you desire to have a “forever home”? You can! For Jesus Christ Himself, the Son of God Who loves you dearly, desires to prepare one for you. To receive it, all you must do is embrace Him and the claims He makes upon your life.
If you have not done so, I hope you soon will. I would love to live beside you in our “forever homes” in Heaven!
ARTICLE SOURCE:
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/titans-kevin-byard-buys-forever-home-for-mother.
The reporter, Paulina Dedaj is a writer for Fox News. She can be followed on Twitter @PaulinaDedaj.
SCRIPTURE SOURCES:
https://biblehub.com/hebrews/11-10.htm;
https://biblehub.com/bsb/revelation/21.htm; and
https://biblehub.com/niv/john/14.htm.
According to the reporter, Pauline Dedaj, “Tennessee Titans’ Kevin Byard isn’t just one of the top safeties in the NFL - he’s also a great son.” The article then goes on to recount how Byard took to social media to share a personal moment with fans, in which he revealed that his former “pipe dream” of buying his mom a home has finally become a reality.
Byard, via twitter, is quoted as having said, “When you come from where I come from, stuff like this is a pipe dream that only a few are able to accomplish. I hate that we couldn’t be there but I’m more happy that everything worked itself out. I love you mom and enjoy your new forever home! ❤️”
Apparently, the young man’s dream to buy his mom a home was made easier after he recently became the highest paid safety in NFL history. Having been a third round draft pick in 2016, Byard was then selected for the Pro Bowl and named First-Team All-Pro in his second year.
After finishing last season with 84 tackles, nine pass deflections, and five interceptions, the talented and hard-working player signed a $70.5 million contract extension, making him second in annual salaries behind the Chicago Bears' Eddie Jackson, according to www.overthecap.com.
Kudos to this young man! He clearly worked hard to get where he is; and he deserves all he receives as a result. But what impresses me the most is that he now chooses to turn part of that personal reward into a blessing for others whom he obviously loves very dearly.
For my part, none of my three children is a professional athlete with a phenomenal salary package. Accordingly, I do not necessarily expect that I will be given a “forever home” from any of them, at least not any time soon. But I am completely okay with that. I love them all dearly and am so proud of them just as they are. What is more, I have already been blessed with comfortable home in which to live.
Besides all this, I already have a “forever home” that has been prepared for me. It was made possible for me by a very special Son – only not my Son, but God’s Son. And the home He has prepared for me is quite a place.
The writer of the New Testament Book of Hebrews (chapter 11, verse 10) refers to a place “designed and built by God”. Revelation chapter 21 describes it in great detail. And Jesus Himself spoke of this place in the New Testament Gospel of John (chapter 14, verses 1-4), when He said:
1“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God a ; believe also in me. 2My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4You know the way to the place where I am going.”
That is the place that will be my “forever home”; and I cannot wait to see it, and to dwell in it. But I am not alone. What Christ has done for me, He has done for everyone, including you, my friend. Listen to what the next two verses in John, chapter 14 record:
5Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Do you desire to have a “forever home”? You can! For Jesus Christ Himself, the Son of God Who loves you dearly, desires to prepare one for you. To receive it, all you must do is embrace Him and the claims He makes upon your life.
If you have not done so, I hope you soon will. I would love to live beside you in our “forever homes” in Heaven!
ARTICLE SOURCE:
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/titans-kevin-byard-buys-forever-home-for-mother.
The reporter, Paulina Dedaj is a writer for Fox News. She can be followed on Twitter @PaulinaDedaj.
SCRIPTURE SOURCES:
https://biblehub.com/hebrews/11-10.htm;
https://biblehub.com/bsb/revelation/21.htm; and
https://biblehub.com/niv/john/14.htm.