Gratitude Friday…
My gratitude list is pretty simple. Dad got some miraculous news this week. He called and sounded almost giddy with excitement. This will change what we thought his life would be like from now on. There are still challenges to face but for now, this one seems to be behind him.
Dad got sick when I was in the fifth grade. I have vague memories of it and what I do remember were the adults around me being very nervous. That and my grandmother washed AND DRIED my Guess jeans. Meaning, they were then worthless because they were too short for me and my gangly legs to wear. And tight rolling them (oh, ya’ll know what I’m talking about) was certainly out of the question.
Several weeks after he went into the hospital, my brother and I got to go in for a brief visit. Dad doesn’t remember it at all but I remember almost every detail. Superman was on the TV. There were tubes and monitors every where. Yoo-hoo chocolate drinks were in the corner. And dad was smiling his biggest smile.
I realized then that my parents were not invincible. Not sure when most children learn this lesson but I suspect 11 was a little young. Over the years, he’s faced various physical challenges. But, he’s still here. He saw us graduate, walked me down the aisle, served as my brother’s best man and met his grandson. All things I wasn’t sure would happen when I saw him in that hospital bed.
We’ve lost most of our family since that February when I was 11. Grandmother, Granddaddy, Mamaw, Pappaw. Aunts and Uncles moved away and have families of their own now. For the most part, it’s just been us. Our little family of 4. Now a family of 7. Through it all, our family learned the meaning of each moment. Whatever the day, whatever the event, we were together and we celebrated. We don’t take each other for granted. We don’t forget to say I love you as often as we can.
So this week I am grateful for my dad’s challenges and the joy we found in being a family. I am also grateful the Lord, once again, answered our prayers and has healed Dad.
My gratitude list is pretty simple. Dad got some miraculous news this week. He called and sounded almost giddy with excitement. This will change what we thought his life would be like from now on. There are still challenges to face but for now, this one seems to be behind him.
Dad got sick when I was in the fifth grade. I have vague memories of it and what I do remember were the adults around me being very nervous. That and my grandmother washed AND DRIED my Guess jeans. Meaning, they were then worthless because they were too short for me and my gangly legs to wear. And tight rolling them (oh, ya’ll know what I’m talking about) was certainly out of the question.
Several weeks after he went into the hospital, my brother and I got to go in for a brief visit. Dad doesn’t remember it at all but I remember almost every detail. Superman was on the TV. There were tubes and monitors every where. Yoo-hoo chocolate drinks were in the corner. And dad was smiling his biggest smile.
I realized then that my parents were not invincible. Not sure when most children learn this lesson but I suspect 11 was a little young. Over the years, he’s faced various physical challenges. But, he’s still here. He saw us graduate, walked me down the aisle, served as my brother’s best man and met his grandson. All things I wasn’t sure would happen when I saw him in that hospital bed.
We’ve lost most of our family since that February when I was 11. Grandmother, Granddaddy, Mamaw, Pappaw. Aunts and Uncles moved away and have families of their own now. For the most part, it’s just been us. Our little family of 4. Now a family of 7. Through it all, our family learned the meaning of each moment. Whatever the day, whatever the event, we were together and we celebrated. We don’t take each other for granted. We don’t forget to say I love you as often as we can.
So this week I am grateful for my dad’s challenges and the joy we found in being a family. I am also grateful the Lord, once again, answered our prayers and has healed Dad.
So happy to hear some good news. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteLove the new look! Hope you had a good weekend!
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