By ALEC ETHEREDGE | Sports Editor

As I sat in an interview with Montevallo star wide receiver JJ Evans, it became next to impossible to hold back tears as the interview took an emotional turn to talking about his father Thaddeus Evans, whom JJ saw tragically pass away in a drowning accident on Saturday, May 29, 2012.

Being a sports journalist, I interview people on an almost daily basis, but the impact of this is one that is still striking me as I write this post and one I likely will never forget.

As JJ poured out his heart to me and told me about that tragic day, you could see the pain still in his eyes as he tried to muster through the interview.

Seeing his emotion, there were a few times I had to take a breath and collect myself.

Imagine losing your father.

Some of you may have already, and it’s not just a person who raised you, but instilled values in you. Someone you love dearly and have spent your entire life going to for advice knowing they’ll be there for you whenever you need them.

From the time you are born, your dad spends his life devoting love and everything he has to making your life as great as it can possibly be.

Now, imagine not just losing that father but seeing him drown in front of your very eyes as a fourth grader and the terror that would bring to you.

That’s something I’m not sure I could handle.

My dad has had bad health problems for about 15 years now when it comes to his back and knees and can hardly get around on his own anymore, which is hard enough for me to handle, but that’s nothing compared to what Evans, his brother Ty and his stepsister and stepmom witnessed on that tragic day.

What dried the tears away, however, was to hear how JJ is triumphing through the most tragic day of his life at such a young age.

Now a junior at Montevallo High School, he knows his father is looking down on him pushing him every day to be the best he can be with a smile on his face at the achievements he has already accomplished.

Evans went through dark times of not even wanting to wake up much less play sports or talk to other people.

Now he’s the leader of his football team and one of the best football players in the country.

After never thinking he’d play sports again, a different tone comes over him now when he talks about improving and being the best he can be. He gets a grin on his face, and almost gets giddy with excitement when he talks about trying to be the top player in the country and improving every day.

It’s an inspiring story that makes you stop and think for a minute.

No matter how bad some of us may think we have it, others are dealing with much worse.

Especially this time of the year, as many of us gather with family to celebrate Christmas and the holiday season, some will go without their fathers, their mother, a home, gifts and food.

So take a second this holiday season and be extra thankful for what you have and the loved ones you hold dear, because people like JJ would give anything for one more chance to spend Christmas morning with their dad.