After the second round of the RBC Canadian Open last weekend, Hunter Mahan, 31, had a two-stroke lead.  If he could continue playing well for the final two rounds on Saturday and Sunday, he could win the Open and $1 million.

Mahan was warming up at the practice range on Saturday morning in Oakville,
Ontario, when his agent, Chris Armstrong, came to him with an important phone call.  In response to the call, Mahan immediately packed up his clubs, went to the hotel to get his stuff, and flew home in a friend’s private plane to Dallas, TX.  He left behind a possible victory accompanied by a $1 million check because there was something far more important to him: his wife, Kandi, had gone into labor, three weeks early.

Mahan got there in time to witness the birth of the couple’s first child.  Zoe Olivia Mahan was born at 3:26 a.m. on Sunday, July 30^th.

Later that day, Brandt Snedeker won the Canadian Open and the $1 million prize.

But Hunter Mahan has no regrets.  “Both Baby and Mom are doing great,” Mahan tweeted. “Thanks to all - to my sponsors who appreciate what’s important in life
and all my fans for being Awesome!”

“When I am done playing golf,” Mahan told Jason Gay of the Wall Street Journal,
“I’d rather be noted for being a good husband and good father than anything else.” 
He explained that golf and golf titles were fleeting, that “success comes and goes,”
and that there were more important things.  “Seeing your daughter every day, having
a family – that is stuff that makes you happy to your core,” he said. *

What a wonderful lesson in priorities!  Some things are more important – like being there for your wife and the birth of your baby, even if it means giving up an opportunity to win $1 million.  The rewards of relationships are far more valuable than the awards of accomplishments.

THE most important relationship is our relationship with God!
SIN separates us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2) and “the wages of sin is death” (Rom 6:23) But God loves us so much that He gave His Son Jesus to die on the cross for
our sins so that we can be reconciled to Him and receive eternal life (John 3:16;
2 Corinthians 5:18-21).

God will save and give eternal life to those who accept His offer on His terms by: placing their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turning from sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confessing Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and being baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  Then, as one continues to walk in the light of His Word, the blood of Jesus continues to cleanse him from sin (1 John 1:7).

Thank you, Hunter Mahan, for reminding us of the priority of our relationships. 

May his example cause US to place a greater value on OUR relationships – especially the most important one: our relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ!

Won’t YOU accept His offer of salvation, eternal life, and relationship?

David Sargent, Minister