It is 3am on Thanksgiving morning. I am awake. I’m not doing any type of “super mom” turkey preparation, I just can’t sleep. Any other day I’d be filled with frustration at every minute that passes of not being able to fall back to sleep. Today though, I am thankful.
I am thankful as I scroll through facebook (which I rarely do these days). My newsfeed is filled with heartbreak. Loss of loved ones and sick kiddos…very sick kiddos…
I stop and pray for each one of these families and situations, because I know that at the drop of the hat, their situation could easily be mine. I am thankful my children are healthy tonight.
Tonight I will be thankful for all of the things that normally make me want to cry over lack of sleep.
I am thankful for the middle of the night, silly, “gibberish” texts from my teenage son, because it means he is safe and happy.
I am thankful for middle of the night bedwetting because it means kidneys are functioning.
I am thankful for the middle of the night sleep talking I hear coming from the other bedroom because it means my child can talk.
I am thankful for the middle of the night, little kicking feet and head butting acrobatics of a toddler who is determined to take over an entire king size bed because it means he is alive.
I will be thankful for the doctor’s office waiting room antics of my children that nearly brought me to tears of embarrassment today yesterday because it means they are healthy enough to act like a three ring circus.
“This is my circus. These are my monkeys.”
I will be thankful that closest friends live miles and miles away because they are living their best life. Plus I can text at inappropriate hours and count down the days until I see them again.
I will be thankful for the family I won’t see later today because it makes me all the more appreciative of, and thankful for the family I will see today. It reminds me not to take those moments together, (present, past and future) for granted. I am so thankful for the time I got to spend with some of that far away family a few weeks ago.
I am thankful for the love of other families in difficult situations who in the midst of it have paused to help us. We see you and are praying for you.
I am thankful for the loss of a dear friend because it means she finished the fight well and is filled with peace in perfect wholeness.
I am also thankful for the friend who gave me the recipe for the pie that said two year old thoroughly enjoyed.
I am thankful for my messy kitchen because it means we were home to create and eat meals in it.
Which reminds me of how thankful I am for my sister’s mother-in-law who two years ago, opened her home to us in the midst of her own busy life, as we waited out the terrifying time until Jonathan’s second open heart surgery.
I am thankful for all of the medical staff who are working today. Two years ago we spent Thanksgiving at Children’s Hospital. We didn’t have a choice but the people working there did.
I am thankful for all of the people who out of the kindness of their hearts volunteer their time make sure other families have delicious Thanksgiving food to eat.
Sleep would have been nice but I am genuinely grateful for the reflection time to recognize all of the things I take for granted. Besides, if I had been sleeping I would have missed the entertainment of hearing one of my children, in his sleep, request “Alexa, turn on Amazon Story Time.”
Thank you for you.
Even as you pray for us, please know we are praying for you.
Much love,
Christina
Walk As Lions 