Grains of Gratitude

What a difference a week makes.

To quote another cliché, life changes in a blink of an eye. One breath you have both feet on earth and the next breath can be drawn on the other side, hopefully in heaven, meeting the LORD.

My mother changed her address this week from a shell on earth to glory in heaven. I am grateful for the life she led and I hope I can learn from her example. After over three years of fighting with colon cancer her body had fought enough. Doctors and family agreed that there were no more avenues to try.

I received a call Wednesday afternoon and was very thankful that my bags were left packed from the previous weekend. Thursday in the late afternoon, I held her hand while she took her last breath here and her first in the light of the LORD. For that I am forever grateful.

My father showed such love and devotion and was with her for the last weeks almost without respite. He taught our family about faithfulness and commitment. How can I be anything but grateful.

My sister has been a support to me through all of this. We’ve gone from adult children to adults. Preparing funeral arrangements and such has always been our mother’s area. She and her sister always took care of “those things.” She has been by my side through this and kept me focused on what needs accomplished and we’ve even managed to laugh at good memories.

My children have been so precious and free with their love this week. They have given me something to hold on to when I really didn’t want to do much other than crawl in bed. But who can resist such sweet love? My Roo chose to say goodbye to Grandma in ICU and gave her a kiss and told her he loved her. Though my heart broke, I knew it was a gift for all of us.

My dear husband has been such a rock for me. It is with him that I am “real.” I know he knows me and there is no pretending. I can say anything. What a blessing he has been. He is giving my father a gift of playing for my mom’s funeral.

Pastor Al and his wife Ella have once again blessed our family. They are family. Without their support and guidance and comfort we would have been adrift on our little raft this week.

The ICU staff, medical professionals, doctors and all the unexpected “angels” at the hospital made my mother more comfortable, tried to do their utmost to relieve her of her ailments, and at the same time were so compassionate to us. There is no way of repaying them.

I cannot say enough about the friends and family members who have been blessing us this week with prayer, food, fellowship and hugs. To go through life alone, without the aid and blessing of people such as these would be ungrateful.

For all these and so much more, I am grateful.

Grains of Gratitude has been a gift that was started by Christine at Brady’s Bunch. When I started participating I had no idea what an outlet and blessing it would be to stop each week and remember to count my blessings. I am grateful for this too.

Hug your family today for me.

Peace, joy and comfort for the journey for this week.