A few weeks ago, Deion Sanders made his head-coaching debut for the Colorado Buffaloes.

Mr. Sanders, however, had already made quite an impact in the sports world from his time as a collegiate and professional athlete—as evidenced by his nickname: “Primetime.” As a professional football player, he played both offense and defense. He is the only man to have ever played in both a Super Bowl and a World Series. For you non-sports fans out there, those are the championship games for the highest levels of professional football and professional baseball. He was also the first man to ever score a touchdown and a home run in the same week.

Following his first game with the Colorado “Buffs”—a dramatic victory on the road—Sanders sat down with reporters for an interview. With a massive golden necklace with a cross hanging from his neck, he began by saying, “First and foremost, Lord, I thank you.”

This is perfectly reasonable. The psalmist asks God “to give success to the work of our hands” (Ps 90:17). Sanders has been a talented athlete and it seems that he could prove to be a decent coach as well. All of this, he has ultimately received from God: “What do you have that you have not received?” (1 Cor 4:7). To thank God, the giver of all good things, is good for us. It is an integral part of being human to recognize and honor the source of our life and our happiness. This is the virtue of religion at work (ST II-II, q. 81). 

We should not, however, limit the virtue of religion to what is good in the eyes of men: wealth, honors, success, popularity, pleasure, etc. We should especially thank God for those things which help us in attaining eternal salvation. With the eyes of faith, “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him” (Rom 8:28). For the Christian, no moment or action or event in his life is wasted. The Lord orders all things towards the eternal good of his adopted children. Therefore, as difficult as it is to say and do, Christians cannot shy away from thanking God in our times of suffering: “Rejoice always, pray constantly, and give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thess 5:16-18).

My cross—every suffering of mine, great and small—is not a thing to be avoided at all costs, but rather a moment where I may seek and find the Lord: I can’t do it, Lord, but I trust in you. I am not afraid. Your love is enough for me. Thank you for always being near to me.

Even if he may seem flashy or arrogant at times, Deion Sanders does well to publicly witness to his Christian faith after a big win. However, this past weekend he gave an even more credible witness, thanking God in the wake of a crushing defeat: “First and foremost, I thank the Lord for allowing all this to transpire.” Such thanksgiving is more notable, more other-worldly, and more indicative of a faith founded not on worldly success and benefits, but on the divine promises of a future glory.

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Photo from Wikimedia Commons