Gratitude ...
It's a word I love.
It's a word that I'm hoping will become a defining characteristic of my life.
It's a word that often hits me by surprise.
I never know when those moments will sneak into my life, those wonderful moments that open my heart to the incredible blessings I have been given. Moments that help me understand how good my life is and the abundance of love that is there. I hate to even imagine what my life would be like if I didn't have those moments and those learning experiences. How grateful I am!
We spent a few nights in the hospital recently with our baby. The diagnosis was RSV and the treatment was basically oxygen and suction, with a little hydration at the beginning. The entire time we were there I felt peaceful and confident about the situation. I could see the progress he was making and enjoyed the attention of the very capable staff.
My baby would be better soon and we would be going home.
Then it hit me like a brick, I thought of all the others who are there. I thought of the various reasons, illnesses, and afflictions that were out there. I thought of the pain and heartache that accompanied many of the diagnoses given in that hospital.
I ran into a friend from many years ago, his newborn baby had serious complications.
I talked to a lady who practically lived at the hospital, her baby had been there 2 months and it didn't look like they would be leaving anytime soon.
I listened to the nurses at their station discussing treatments needing to take place for some of the children.
Each of those situations brought me back to my baby. I hugged him tighter and offered a little prayer of thanks for our situation. I am so grateful for my life, for my trials and for my triumphs. I am even more grateful to feel the love of my Heavenly Father each and every day of my life. He is there in the good times and the bad, he is there to comfort and guide and fill our lives with purpose and meaning.
I still think about all the other families at the hospital, about their pain and their trials. I pray for peace and comfort to be their companion. I pray for recoveries and miracles. I pray to express gratitude, something I haven't done often enough, but a loving Heavenly Father keeps giving me chances to know how full of blessings my life is.
