Who could imagine a Thanksgiving without football? I know I couldn’t. However, the conflict between watching the game and sitting down with the family for dinner always comes into play. You either watch the game and feel somewhat guilty, or you sit down and have a meaningful meal that is only celebrated one time a year while wondering what you’re missing on TV.

However, for most Lions fans, the game begins at noon and is over well before most families sit down for their Thanksgiving feasts. This year, the Detroit Lions are set to play the Buffalo Bills at noon, the New York Giants are set to play the Dallas Cowboys at 4:30 pm, and the Minnesota Vikings are set to play the New England Patriots at 8:30 pm. For those who aren’t Lions fans or Bills fans, watching their team play will most likely interfere with a national tradition.

In my opinion, nothing is more important than sharing a meaningful Thanksgiving meal with my family. If I had to choose between football and Thanksgiving dinner, I would choose food. I have come to understand that some families’ traditions are to watch football while having a big meal, but that is not what my family does. I couldn’t imagine watching football during Thanksgiving dinner, for I feel like it takes away from the actual meaning of the holiday. The meaning of Thanksgiving is to give thanks and shine a light on things and people we are incredibly grateful for.

Don’t get me wrong, for I think there are a few things better than watching a football game on Thanksgiving, but when it comes to choosing what I value more, it has to be the holiday. Being a Lions fan, this is something I do not have to worry about. I get the best of both worlds, and while some think it is even wrong for the NFL to hold games on Thanksgiving, I enjoy watching a good Lions football game each year with my family.

Thanksgiving is not the only holiday when NFL games are held. Christmas is another holiday that will see NFL games. I can say I have never watched a football game on Christmas because of the same reason I wouldn’t watch a game on Thanksgiving over dinner. Football may be an important part of American culture; however, I do not believe it should be embedded into our holidays to the point where it becomes more about the game than the holiday traditions. I am all for watching a game on Thanksgiving, but what I think everyone should commit to is putting his or her family first. Thanksgiving means so much more to me than a football game, and I wouldn’t trade a meal with my family for anything in the world.