I'm very thankful and very blessed to have the opportunity to

Hear, O keeper of the flame of sport, the words of Reggie Miller, who declared with humility and strength: “I'm very thankful and very blessed to have the opportunity to play this game.” These words, though simple in their form, are mighty in spirit. For they remind us that greatness is not only in the victories or in the records, but in the sacred gift of being able to partake in the game itself. To play, to compete, to give one’s body and soul to a craft—this is a blessing beyond measure, and gratitude is the only fitting crown for such a gift.

The origin of this utterance lies in Miller’s long career in the National Basketball Association, where he became a symbol of perseverance, discipline, and unshakable will. Though his name is remembered for his three-point shots and his duels with rivals, his own heart did not dwell on the glory alone. He looked instead to the very opportunity to play, to step onto the court, to live the dream that so many aspire to yet so few attain. His thankfulness reveals the humility of a man who knew that talent and success are not rights, but blessings bestowed.

This wisdom is not confined to basketball. Recall the tale of Achilles, the hero of Homer’s epics, who, though knowing his fate, declared that to live briefly with glory on the battlefield was better than to live long without the chance to prove himself. For him, the opportunity to fight and to display his valor was itself a gift, even when shadowed by destiny. Likewise, Reggie Miller’s gratitude shows us that the opportunity to play—the chance itself—is the deepest treasure, greater than fame or riches.

His words also carry a spirit of humility. He does not claim his career as solely his own achievement, but as a blessing. To say he is “thankful and blessed” is to recognize the countless forces that shaped his journey: his family who supported him, his coaches who guided him, his health which sustained him, and the unseen providence that allowed him to walk this path. Such humility guards the heart from arrogance, reminding us that even the most gifted are upheld by forces beyond themselves.

The lesson here is profound: in life, we often measure our worth by victories, by records, by the heights we reach. Yet Miller reminds us that the true miracle lies not only in conquering, but in simply being given the chance to step onto the stage of our calling. To have the opportunity is itself the blessing. If we meet it with gratitude, then every step, every effort, every trial becomes meaningful, regardless of the outcome.

Therefore, O listener, in your own journey, do not take for granted the chances life grants you. Whatever your field—be it work, family, art, or sport—treat the very opportunity to act, to create, to strive as sacred. Be thankful for it, for many dream of doors that never open, while you are blessed with the chance to walk through. Let gratitude guide you, and let your labor be an offering of respect for the gift you have been entrusted with.

So let the words of Reggie Miller endure: “I’m very thankful and very blessed to have the opportunity to play this game.” In them lies the eternal teaching that life’s greatest blessing is not always in the trophies won, but in the simple chance to take part, to give of yourself, and to live the calling placed before you. Carry this wisdom, and you too will find that gratitude transforms even ordinary opportunities into sacred victories.