An Athlete and More

Dwyane Wade, Jr. was drafted to play in the National Basketball Association in 2003.  The Miami Heat chose Wade as the 5^th pick in Round 1.  Except for a two-year period, where he played for the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers, Dwyane Wade played for the Miami Heat.  In 2019, he announced his retirement.  At each of the games during his final season, Wade would swap jerseys with other legends on the opposing team.  Most times the players had written words of admiration and gratitude on the jersey before presenting it to him.  The basketball jerseys were then hung and displayed on a wall.

At the conclusion of the season, Wade was invited to the AmericanAirlines Arena to receive five more articles of clothing for his wall.  Except for the camera people, host, and a few other people, the arena was empty.  Wade had no clue who would be presenting their gifts on that day.  The first person to walk across the empty court was a young man who had met Dwyane Wade 12 years earlier.  He explained to Wade that he grew up in “an area where not too many make it.”  Wade’s influence was the spark he needed to change the direction for his life.  He presented Dwyane with the suit coat he had worn to his first event, with a message written on the lining, and said, “Having you as a role model has made all the difference.”

Next a young lady walked across the basketball court.  She explained that it was only a dream for her to have the chance to go to college because there were no funds.  Wade had provided her with a full tuition scholarship.  The young lady gave Dwyane her cap and gown and thanked him for investing in her future.

Then a young woman approached Wade and explained how he was her brother’s favorite basketball player.  On February 14, he was 1 of the 17 victims in the high school shooting in Parkland, Florida.  When Wade found out the young man looked at him as a role model, he had written Joaquim Oliver’s name on his tennis shoe so he would not be forgotten.  With the blessing of her family, the sister gave Wade her brother’s basketball jersey from his last championship basketball game.

As the next lady approached the center of the basketball court, she reminded Dwyane that her home had burned down ten days before Christmas and their family lost everything in the fire.  She received a phone call from Wade asking if he could take her family on a shopping spree.  The lady brought a shirt, that had been purchased on that day, to present to Dwyane.

The final guest was Dwyane’s mother.  She began by telling him how he was the joy of her life.  Because of drug usage, she confessed that she had dropped the ball.  After turning herself in to the authorities, Wade’s mother served time in prison.  She didn’t think she would ever be able to come back, but Wade kept showing up to check on her.  Because Dwyane believed in her, she came out of prison a different woman.  His mother explained that since he had bought a church for her, many lives had been changed.  She then presented her son with a purple clergy robe representing royalty and said, “I am more proud of the man you have become than the basketball player.  You are bigger than basketball.”

Dwyane Wade, Jr. has a wall full of his peer’s basketball jerseys with words of admiration and praise for his athletic ability to be enjoyed now and for years to come.  He has invested in his team as well as the NBA.  But I venture to say, the contributions he has made in the lives of these five people, as well as others, will reap benefits for now and hopefully generations to come.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Galatians 6:9

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Colossians 3:23-24

If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture. “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.

James 2:8

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

James 3:17