The Belfast Boy & Bone-handled bags

Arguably the greatest football (soccer for my US friends) player of all time, George Best "the Belfast boy", is rated by many pundits as the greatest footballer ever.  There are others who left an indelible mark on the game, but even the legendary Brazilian footballer Pele named George Best as the world's greatest ever player.

I've just been reading Georges autobiography entitled 'Blessed'. With his footballing prowess and amazing dribbling talent, he was certainly blessed. Sadly George's alcoholism was his downfall. The illness related to this addiction ultimately robbed us of a sporting genius.

It was in the early hours of 25th November 2005 when George died aged 59 years.

At the time my East Belfast supermarket had special tribute posters announcing his untimely death printed by our local newspaper the Belfast Telegraph. I had grown men actually beg me for copies.

Who will ever forget the floral tributes that preceded his hurse and the funeral cortege as it made it's way to Stormont.

Upon George's death, I remember taking one of my son's on a pilgrimage to his humble family home at Burren Way, Cregagh, Belfast. The front garden was hidden by the many flowers, wreaths, candles and football memorobillia. There is a plaque there which says: "Family Home of Soccer Legend George Best, Awarded the Freedom of the Borough of Castlereagh."

Legendary chat show host Michael Parkinson has said that George Bests infamous interview with Terry Wogan 28 years ago, was one of the worst television he had ever seen. Parky says the back room staff should never have allowed the fiasco, as George was drunk to the point of speechlessness. 

My dear old Mum used to repeat a phrase, based on the promise to Abraham (Genesis 12:2-3). She would say "you're blessed to be a blessing"! 

George was blessed with unprecedented football skills. Some of us are blessed with other gifts and talents of varying degrees. Many of us have been given so much: material goods, adequate incomes, good education, families, faith, friends, jobs and homes.

Mum though, she understood the reason why we are blessed (Isa 42:1,6-7). Yes, it is in turn to bless others.

We are not to be an exclusive club for the private enjoyment of God's blessings. 

Abraham was to be the instrument whom God would eventually bring a way of salvation that would be for the benefit of everyone on earth (Genesis 12:2-3).

The top line is "I will bless you" and the bottom line is and "you will be a blessing." We need both to be operational, otherwise we can so easily become self-indulgent.

The question I ask myself often is not 'what can I get'? rather 'how can I bless'?

You may not be like George who had a Belfast airport posthumously named after him. 

You also may not have the fame and fortune that George received. 

He was such a loveable scallywag. Who can forget his mischievous demeanor and that glint in his eye?

However, you and I can be like the lad with two fish and five loaves (John 6:1-14). We too can ask for the Lord to take our little 'blessing' and multiply it, as a life that would reach out to bless others.

My grandma, Isabel Shaw, was a lady crippled with arthritis. She was able though, with her twisted hands, to crochet bone/tortoiseshell handled shopping bags. The profits on sales of the bags all went to the building fund which helped pay for the Church of God, Glenmachan, East Belfast (then Strandtown).

Let's ensure we take our own measure of blessing and put it to use. Let it be a blessing to someone else this coming week.

Here it is in song : https://youtu.be/rMYx5bvuvgA

#Simplythebest

PS (The goal that George nicked from Gordon Banks hands should have been given).#Defoagoal