Give Thanks

Sitting in a pediatric hospital room by our teenaged son’s bedside, over 3 hours away from home, is not where we thought we’d be spending the Thanksgiving holiday.  This while also mourning the sudden and unexpected loss of our friend, Torey, whose funeral we consequently could not attend this week.  And additionally receiving the news that our family dog, Rascal, passed away during our absence this week.  

It would be easy to forgo giving thanks at this time.  Easy to focus on all that is wrong.  Easy to focus on all that we’re missing.  Easy to focus on all that we’ve lost. 

But instead, we will choose to focus on all that we’ve gained.  And we will choose to count each of our blessings. 

The blessing of having had Rascal as a family pet for over 13 years.  The blessing of having known Torey and the positive impact he had on our lives.  The blessing of our son, Landry, being alive and breathing.

The blessing of family, friends, and even strangers, offering love, support, and countless prayers for our family during this difficult time. 

The blessing of answered prayers.

We will count these blessings and so many others, many of which we often take for granted, both big and small.

Like the little turkey-duck pictured above.  The housekeeping attendant brought this to Landry in his hospital room.  She stated that even though Landry isn’t a young child, she still wanted him to have it because every patient deserved something.  And that small gesture brought a big smile to Landry’s face.

Often times we think we need to do big things to make a difference, when sometimes all we need to do are little things.  For little things can bring big blessings.

And blessings, both big and small, are what my family will choose to focus on this holiday.  Amidst trials, amidst exhaustion, amidst grief and sorrow, we will focus on our many blessings.  And for these blessings, we will give thanks.  Thanks to our Heavenly Father, from whom all blessings flow.

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)

“For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.”  1 Timothy 4:4 (NIV)