Right here...here is where I used to live...as a 13 year old boy...I dug a hole, then a cave out of the side of this creek...and this is where I lived for almost a year...No one will ever know what it was like...what I went through...I remember lying in this cave at night crying out to God, asking him, Is THIS All There Is For My Life!?!? Is This All I Will Ever Be??? said Danny Hodge as he showed me one afternoon the tour of his life which all turned around, beginning with living in a hole in the ground which he dug out as a place to live, as he no longer could tolerate living in a abusive home... In collegiate football there is a trophy given to the most outstanding player of the year and it is called the “Heisman” trophy… In collegiate wrestling there is a trophy given to the most dominating wrestler of the year and that trophy is called the “Hodge” trophy. A tribute to a living legend and salt of the earth fellow that Oklahoma has the great honor of calling one of their own from Perry, Oklahoma - Danny Hodge, a man who proudly graduated with a 3.8 GPA from Oklahoma University. Danny Hodge is the only man in the history of sports to go through his entire career of collegiate wrestling and golden gloves boxing undefeated. Quite a statement as his obtaining this title as the most dominating wrestler and boxer was due to the average time his opponents lasted with him. In wrestling it was a average of just one minute and 33 seconds before they counted the lights. In boxing, even for the heavyweight championship it didnt last past the second round. It is a great honor of mine to be able to call Danny and his beautiful wife Delores friends of mine, and just as Danny has told me as we ate lunch at his kitchen table, and at national wrestling events with a round table of all the whos who of the wrestling world sitting around us, he would proudly tell you that the greatest and most important “win” in his life was when he met, courted and married his wife Delores. When he married Delores, he also got one of the things he had always wanted – a family. You see Danny’s life wasnt ridden on the gravy train with biscuit wheels. At the young age of just 13, to escape the abuse at home, he ran away and began living in a cave in the side of Cow creek which he dug out with just a stick, lined with cardboard, along with his only possession - a old quilt. It was from this cave that Danny would call out to God and ask Him, “What can I do!?!...Is this ALL there is to my life??” The Bible says that God is always near the broken hearted to comfort and lift them up…and God was with Danny as in just 5 months his life permanently changed with a literal “divine order.” The average Day for Danny was to go to school then go to work at the local Conoco gas station till 10pm where he earned his money for food. One day Danny went down to the Jr. High gym in the basement to play basketball, and he heard the roar of people cheering and yelling and he witnessed for the 1st time in his life a wrestling match. As Danny sat there with his basketball , one of the coach’s walks over and put’s his hand on Danny’s shoulder and asks him the question, “Would you like to try out son?” and Danny shrugs his shoulders and say’s ,“I guess so!” and the rest as they say is history as Danny found this was a talent he could excel at, a talent that helped him keep focus and stay away from the wrong paths that call to every young person. Instead of becoming bitter when life handed him lemons, Danny chose to become better with the help of good people just like the coach that began this path for him, just months after Danny called out to God asking Him if this is all there is for him. The coaches name that began a journey that would take Danny around the world over 44 times, earn his place in over 6 Halls of fame, and have a trophy named after him that is only given to the most dominating collegiate wrestler of the year – coach Divine, that’s right…coach Divine!! The 1st thing in life you have to understand and come to grips with is that it is not easy, but no matter the circumstances you can overcome them if you will learn to let God be a partner in your life, just as with Danny’s life, it totally began to change when he asked God to show him what He had for him in this life. If you have not yet made God a partner in your life, Danny and his beautiful wife Delores, and myself would like to encourage you to say this simple prayer from your heart, just say, “Heavenly Father, I ask you to be a partner in my life from this day forward. I thank you for your Son Jesus paying the price for my sins, and in Jesus’ name I receive forgiveness of all my sins and know that because of my faith in Him I am in your family and have Heaven as my home…I ask you to help me overcome areas in my life, my home, family and school…and I thank you for leading me and showing me all the good things you have for my life in Jesus’ name…Amen!” God made us spirit (eternal part of us), soul (our mind & emotions), and body…it is our choice to have strength & honor in each of those areas…If you learn to have strong faith knowing God is with you and for you, it will carry you through the toughest times life can dish out. If you learn to discipline your mind it will make the difference of either being a ditch digger or a doctor. If you learn to discipline your body you will enjoy a healthy and energetic life, just like the living legend, Danny Hodge. Jesus Is Lord!!! Rev. Bill Lowder Bill Lowder Ministries 918-955-4074
Posted on: Sat, 20 Dec 2014 16:51:35 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015