Thursday, March 27, 2008

With a grateful heart...

I thank God for life...

The Conversation in my van yesterday after school:
Life

10-yr-old son:..."ouch!..my abs hurt!.."
14-yr-old son: [looks at said 9-yr-old with a practiced mixture of derision and perplexity]..."how can your abs hurt? You don't have any!"
10-yr-old son:..."oh, yeah!?!... and you're...you're thin! [lame comeback obviously due to painful abs!]
14-yr-old son: ..."Ab-less! Ab-less!"
10-yr-old-son:...[chuckle, chuckle]..oh yeah!....
14-yr-old son:..."Ab-less!"

Later that night picking up 14-yr-old from youth group: Encounter with death

14-yr-old-son:..."Mom, in case you're wondering what it's all about tonight [I found the youth huddled in circles, with red eyes, some hugging]... Ben's Dad died of a heart attack last night..."
10-yr-old-son: [Silence]
14-yr-old-son: [Silence]

Email yesterday from our church office:
-announcements of 4 deaths, 4 fathers, 4 husbands....

Father, give me a grateful heart for life around me, life in me. May I treasure each moment as a gift from You. Cover all those who are grieving this day and provide for all they need spiritually, emotionally and physically and financially. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

3 comments:

Carol said...

Wow. What a reminder to cherish every moment of life. Thanks for visiting today. I will pray for you as you search for what God has planned. Be blessed!

Amy L Brooke said...

Thanks for visiting my blog. I look forward to getting to know you.

Wow, that is a lot of death all at once. May I make an unasked for suggestion?

Write down the dates and put them on your calendar 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months out (I know caledars don't go that far but I'm sure you can think of a way.) Drop the greiving families cards around those points or if you know them ask them for coffee or dinner.

The guy I was dating died suddenly last April. I've gone to a grief support group and everyone says those anniversary dates are harder than they anticipated and harder still because no one else remembers -- they have moved on. I know I wasn't married to Bill, but we had spoken of marriage.... No one has asked me about him in over 6 months -- not even at the holidays. I suppose they might think it a lesser grief but grief is grief.

Sorry. I don't mean to sound preachy!

I'll be back!

Amrita said...

Sorry about the loss to your church. may God comfort the families.

Its good to teach children about the reality of death