November 29 – “The Turkey Bowl”

Every year since I was back in Junior high school my family and friends have gathered together on the Saturday after Thanksgiving at high noon for a football tradition.  It started small – just my brothers and my cousins.  I had two brothers and four guy cousins.  Soon we invited a few friends.  As we got into high school and then college, the number ebbed and flowed, but the tradition continued every year almost without exception.  One year we had T-shirts printed up to commemorate the occasion.  Some years invitations were sent out.  Occasionally there was a party the night before.  In more recent years a most unusual trophy was presented in honor of a guy who always promised to come, but somehow never did.  We have had many memorable, historical moments.  The youngest child of the "next generation."  The first girl.  The oldest participant.  We have played in a driving rainstorm.  We have endured sweltering Galveston heat.  When it started running, we determined halftime by the appearance of the Treasure Isle Tour Train.  And sometimes we even started playing again after the halftime break.  We have had large crowds in the stands, and no crowds at all.  One year we had a cheerleader, uniform and all.  We have had trips to the emergency room for broken arms and bloody mouths.    The tradition continued this year – today.  This year a four-year-old caught a pass and was tackled mercilessly by a near-thirty-year-old.  And that four-year-old took out another guy three times his size with a beautiful body block.  (By the way, the four-year-old was my grandson Jachin).  This year we ran a play where an incredibly pregnant woman played quarterback – and scored on a run up the middle.  No one saw the ball.  We thought it was just her belly!    Honestly speaking, it didn't really feel like we wanted to be there today.  Chris said the competitive spark was missing.  Might have been that Kel and James both had bad knees.  And I was out there, too.  Need I say more?  Might have been that even those of us who did show up had a little bit on our minds other than football.  Like maybe – our house.  Our job.  Our family.  But we played, even if it was just a little while.  After all, the Turkey Bowl must go on.  The Turkey Bowl is forever. Well, maybe not forever.    In Luke 1:30-33, Gabriel tells Mary, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."   Father, you are forever.  Need I say more?  Amen.