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Gill Byrd What is your motivation for living? About five years ago I answered that question once and for all and my life became changed forever. I want to tell you what happened. I grew up in the church. I was taught, just be good. Sure, I believed there was a God. But the only time I prayed was during bad times, "Help me Lord. I'll be good. I won't do it again." What motivated me to live was self satisfaction. I thought, "Gill, just be the best you can and everything will pan itself out." In college at San Jose State University, my life began to change. Marilyn, who later became my wife, planted the seed. During the next six years, I would go from Prospect, to Suspect, to Servant for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. After my sophomore year, I became a pro prospect. I came to get a good education and I was getting that. After a great sophomore year, I started believing my own clippings that said "Gill's one of the best in the nation." I thought I knew it all. But I had a 50 dollar hair-do on a five cent head. As a junior I was playing my best. I was playing with confidence. Then I tore a ligament in my right knee and in a matter of seconds I went from prospect to suspect. The scouts said there was no way I could come back to play. I said, "Fine. My education is still first." During this time Marilyn showed me the same consideration and love when I was on the top as when I was on the bottom. But I was still on this Gill Byrd kick. "There's no way we can get our answers form the Bible and solve our problems." Marilyn was coming from the Word (Bible), while I was coming from the world. When I got drafted in the first round by the San Diego Charges I met Sherman Smith. He had an unquenchable love for Jesus Christ. I thought you were less of a man if you were a Christian. But I thought different after I got to know Sherman. He showed me that it takes more of a man to walk with God, than to deny Him. During this time I realized that I wasn't created to worship myself, and education, or football. I was created to worship God. In 1983, on a plane trip coming back from a game with the New York Giants I accepted Jesus Christ in my life. Does being a Christian make a difference? Yes it does! Over the past six years I've seen God work in my life. He's given me things I really didn't deserve. He's given me my wife Marilyn who showed me her love when I was going through ups and downs. I've seen God's grace in my life . Our first son, Gill II was born three months premature. He weighed 1 lb. 15 oz. He was so small I could fit him in the palm of my hand. So, during this time, my wife and I got closer to each other and closer to God. We read the Bible, and we learned to trust God in all trials. Today Gill is a healthy, growing boy. What is your motivation for living? Before I met Jesus Christ, I lived to please myself. But that was the wrong motivation for living? If you would like to know more about Jesus and what He can do for you, just click the button on the left side of your screen to change your life. |
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