Being Thankful

Many people are currently spending time at their local shopping malls or online, trying to finish up some last minute shopping, so I'll be brief. I've too had my share of standing in line trying to find that one last gift. If there is one thing I love, and that's surprising someone on the 25th with a gift they have always wanted. After spending so many years growing up in a sound household with parents who instilled in me the real meaning of Christmas, it took me along time to really understand. Understand that God has blessed my family and I to be a light for others. While several spend time trying to serenade others with expensive gifts and other objects, most only want the one thing we as athletes have a hard time giving and that's "time". I've always thought that it was easy just to "Write the Check", just tell me how much, and I would try to meet your need. I have lost out big, not taken the chance to understand their true needs, and it has taken me a while to understand that money never really fixes the problem, it just disguise it. But as I've grown, I've learned how to give something much more than just a cash, I've learned how to give them my time. In time, I can try to teach and indoctrinate them like my mother and father taught my brothers and I. I'm no longer engrossed in their "Today", I want others to start thinking about their tomorrow. Because tomorrow will come, whether you are prepared or not. Tomorrow, will have it's own set of challenges. Tomorrow is also where you have to "Man Up"; it's where you can make amends. I've meet so many fans that live and die with our wins and losses, and they don't realize that it's just a game, but what's really important is how you play the game. While our record that stands at 4 wins and 10 losses might not be superlative, but for many of us who cross those white lines on Sunday, we're playing the game with every once of God given talent we have, talent that if you were a true fan you would see. Please don't look at what others say, let's role the film, and you will see the eyes of an veteran that is as dominate in defending the run as "Prime Time" was in stopping pass. I have statistics, but I also have a heart. I'm not going to sell out others for the price of fame. I can't be concerned with what others may say about the 49ers, instead I press toward the "Mark". The mark, as it's pertains to football is the Super Bowl or Pro Bowl, but in life it's being the man that is