ONE OF VICKI’S FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIES IS “THE PREACHER’S WIFE” (I WONDER WHY THAT IS), STARRING DENZEL WASHINGTON AND WHITNEY HOUSTON. For many years we, along with millions of others, have enjoyed the singing and acting talents of Whitney Houston. Consequently, we were extremely saddened to learn of her recent death at 48 years of age.

Whitney was pop music’s queen in the late 1980’s and 1990’s. She influenced a generation of younger singers, from Christina Aguilera to Mariah Carey. Her success carried her beyond music to movies, where she starred in hits like “The Bodyguard,” “Waiting To Exhale,” and yes, “The Preacher’s Wife.” She had the perfect voice and the perfect image. But during her career and personal highs, Houston was using drugs. She was involved in a marriage with singer Bobby Brown where there was much conflict and drug usage. She confessed at various times to abusing cocaine, marijuana and pills, and her once incredible voice became raspy and hoarse, unable to hit the high notes as she had done during her prime time. In an interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2009, she said that by the time “The Preacher’s Wife” was released, “Doing drugs was an everyday thing.” She went on to say, “I wasn’t happy by that point in time, and I was losing myself.” In the interview Whitney blamed her rocky marriage and unhappy life on Brown, whom she divorced in 2007. Whether or not Bobby Brown was the source of many of her problems is hard to tell, but we know that her life, even before her death, had become a great tragedy.

WHAT ARE SOME LESSONS WE CAN LEARN FROM WHITNEY HOUSTON’S TRAGIC LIFE AND UNTIMELY DEATH? First, we need to remember where we came from and cling to the values that initially shaped our lives and help us rise to strength and success. Whitney grew up singing in a church where her mother lead the music ministry. As long as she clung to her faith heritage, Whitney did well. It was when she embraced the world’s values that she began to lose control of her life and began a quick descent toward death. That reminds us that we must impress upon our children and grandchildren the necessity of staying involved in church and appreciating and affirming our heritage of faith and family values.

Second, we need to realize that every day we are in a battle with the world, the flesh and the devil. In an interview with ABC’s Diane Sawyer in 2002, Whitney said: “The biggest devil is me. I’m either my best friend or my worst enemy.” All of us struggle with the world, the flesh and the devil. We must daily clothe ourselves with the “Armor of God” (Ephesians 6:10-20) so that we can overcome the temptations and trials that come from these three adversaries in life. We also need to avail ourselves of Christian Counseling (i.e. The Celebration Hope Center) and ministries like Celebrate Recovery when we begin to struggle with issues in life. There is hope and help for people if they really want to receive that help.

Third, we need to remember that who we befriend, associate with and marry will have a great impact upon our lives for good or for bad. Although I’m certain that Whitney was a “sinner” before she met Bobby Brown (she probably wouldn’t have met and married him if she wasn’t), it appears that it was after her marriage to Brown that her life began to unravel. Psalm 119:63 reads, “I am a friend to all who fear You (O Lord), and to all who follow Your precepts.” Proverbs 12:26 reads, “The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray.” Both of these verses remind us that if we want to experience God’s blessings and best in our lives, we must choose only the very best (and godliest) of friends and mates.

Fourth, we need to remember that only the Lord can bring us the peace, joy and fulfillment that we are all looking for in life. Whitney Houston had looks, talent, popularity, fame, money, possessions – virtually anything and everything that most people want and desire in life. But in the end, all that she had was not enough. What she needed was the peace, love, joy, strength, help and hope of the Lord – which is what we all need. That’s why coming to know the Lord Jesus and staying close to Him must be our primary pursuit in life. If that doesn’t become and remain our primary pursuit in life, we will, like Whitney Houston, live a tragic life and die a tragic death, no matter how beautiful, talented, gifted or successful we are.

LORD, HELP US TO REMEMBER THAT ALL THAT WE ARE AND HAVE COMES FROM YOU, AND MAY WE DEDICATE OUR LIVES TO LOVING YOU, LEARNING FROM YOU, AND LIVING FOR YOU.