By now you have probably heard of the story of the viral video of the homeless man with the “golden voice,” Ted Williams and how he was taken off the street, did an immediate commercial for Kraft, and offered a job by the Cavaliers and others. Ted was suddenly plunged into fame, asked to be a guest on a variety of popular news shows, and was an invited guest on Dr. Phil, who reunited him on the show with his children and confronted Ted and the family in his usual blunt, but truthful way.
A show of Dr. Phil’s confrontation will play Thursday.
The latest news reports are that Ted is now heading back into drug and alcohol rehab after an altercation with his daughter and it came to light that he drank again.
Some people are very upset about the way things have turned out. Some people are saying it was inevitable given his history and the pressures he was facing with the overnight fame. Some people are cheering, never having wanted him to succeed and pointing to his abandoning his family, his drug use, and his criminal history. Some people are angry, saying his family is just bitter and seeking revenge or claiming the news media, Dr. Phil, and others are racists.
I personally can’t stand a lot of drama and all this drama turns my stomach. I probably won’t be posting about this any more after this one. But I am still praying for Ted and rooting for him.
“WHAT????!!!!!” You might think.
Yes, I know about him leaving his family and not being there for his kids and about his criminal record. It wasn’t right. It was terribly wrong. The kids suffered the most from this. It makes me so angry when fathers don’t support their children. I have a close relative, whose ex-husband doesn’t support his own kids and she struggles to put food on the table and pay basic bills because of it (he was addicted to drugs and alcohol, had an affair, and left her and the kids!).
I feel the mom’s and the kids’ pain. I pray they will be able to forgive him and to be healed from this great pain.
Yes, I am very upset that Ted drank again and fought with his daughter, and the police got involved. How terribly disappointing.
But who am I to judge Ted Williams? And why aren’t we praying for him instead of casting stones? Except for the grace of God, there go I – even today!
That doesn’t mean we condone any of his sinful actions! God is holy and doesn’t wink at sin. And if someone has a drinking and/or drug problem, they should be confronted with the truth and they need to get help.
But this entire story shows just how much people need Jesus – Ted, the ex-wife, the kids, the people accusing Ted, the people accusing Ted’s ex-wife and daughter, the people accusing Dr. Phil, Ted’s mother who said to Ted, don’t disappoint her, and yes, Dr. Phil needs Jesus, too. Dr. Phil isn’t perfect either, as great a man as he is. None of us are.
Let’s face it. All of us human beings are just a mess. We need God! I know I do!
In love, I challenge anyone – will you pray for Ted? Pray for his salvation, for his deliverance, for his freedom, for his destiny to be fulfilled, for his brokenness. Or will you judge him?
“They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” ~ John 8:7, NLT
“So if you still consider me a comrade-in-arms, welcome him back as you would me. If he damaged anything or owes you anything, chalk it up to my account. This is my personal signature—Paul—and I stand behind it. (I don’t need to remind you, do I, that you owe your very life to me?) Do me this big favor, friend. You’ll be doing it for Christ, but it will also do my heart good.” ~ Philemon 1:17-20, The Message Bible
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