Giving Thanks to All on Thanksgiving

Today is a day to be retrospective.

Yes, I have written my prep basketball report for the day.

Yes, I have written my Saints injury report for Wednesday and will do so today as well.

Yes, I have written my piece on the New Orleans Pelicans winning easily at San Antonio.

Yes, I am preparing for our six hours of prep football coverage on Ken Trahan’s Original Prep Football Report tomorrow night on NASH ICON 106.1 FM.

Yes, I am preparing to broadcast the Brother Martin-Northwood Select Division I quarterfinal game on NASH ICON 106.1 FM as part of the show Friday night.

No, work does not stop for Thanksgiving.

Yes, we are thankful to have that work and to bring you the very best we can deliver on local sports entities on a daily basis, thanks to a splendid team of professionals dedicated to providing the best product possible and striving to improve all the time.

No, we do not get every story but we strive to get many and, most importantly, to get those stories right and to present facts in the most positive fashion possible.

It was great to see New Orleans Saints players, New Orleans Pelicans players, Coach Willie Green, owner Gayle Benson and those from our professional sports team ranks giving back over the last couple of days.

Whether we possess or have the ability to give a lot or to give a little, we should, at all times, be of the mindset to give and to do so joyfully, without compulsion. The Lord loves a cheerful giver.

Giving should be fun.

Receiving should be fun and in the process of reception, we should never neglect being thankful to others and to the giver of all things.

We are thankful that the largest part of the crippling pandemic which gripped our society, bodies and businesses has largely subsided and that our lives and the lives of our children are largely restored to a feeling of comfort, joy and recognition.

We are thankful for our health, particularly when I focus on those we have lost most recently.

I am thankful to have had Barbara Turner, our bowling friend whose family generously helped watch our children when they were very young.

I am thankful to have had the very kind Brian Eichhorn in my life, from our grammar school days, playground days and to our high school days together.

I am thankful to have had Paul Hoolahan in my life, graciously allowing me to be a small part of the Allstate Sugar Bowl over many years.

Those fine persons are gone from this earth but not forgotten as each made his or her mark.

Let us be thankful for all that we have on this day and let us all work diligently to make our mark.

I am thankful that our son arrived home late last night to be with us for a few days. We love him and miss him dearly but we are incredibly thankful that he has enjoyed outstanding professional success as an archaeologist elsewhere and he is a loving, caring young man.

I am thankful that our daughter will be with us today, with her loving husband and beautiful children. It happens to be her birthday and that provides a double dose of thanks. She was born smiling and remains that way, radiating love and always sharing her life with us.

I am thankful for a wife who tolerates me daily, puts up with my lack of patience and annoying idiosyncrasies and constant work mode daily. I am beyond fortunate.

Though we all endure hardships and are immersed in daily struggles, today is a day to stop, take a deep breath, forget about the Saints having a disappointing season, forget about the Pelicans being healthy or not, forget about Tulane beating Cincinnati, forget about LSU drilling Texas A&M and to forget about the prep playoffs.

Today is a day to spend time with those we love, cherish and wish we could spend more time with.

There will be food.

There will be football, American style and futbol, as the rest of the world knows it.

There will be fun.

There will be no failure.

It will be fantastic.

I Thessalonians 5:18 reminds us to “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Whatever your circumstances, whatever my circumstances, whatever our circumstances, let us give thanks.

Indeed, thank you all for supporting CrescentCitySports.com.

Happy Thanksgiving and have a wonderful, relaxing, joyful day.