As I peruse FB, I see so many people doing daily posts of what they are thankful for. Although I have not participated to this point, I want to now post what is deeply on my heart. I am first and foremost thankful for my Savior who loves me even when I am not lovable.....and who provided a way for me to live with Him throughout eternity. Here on this planet Earth, I am so very thankful for my family! Recently we buried my Uncle Bob Frahm who was killed by a drunk driver in the blink of an eye. The service was beautiful......and very surreal. The days following his death I found myself fearful that at any moment I could get a call or a visit at my door. Every car that came my way could be the one that took me home to be with my Savior. It is moments like these that make the troubles that we have with our spouse, our children, our parents or siblings or even grand children seem menial and petty. Life is hard yet life is so wonderful. It is times like these that tend to make you look at things from a different perspective. It is times like these that open your eyes to the beauty of family.....good, bad or ugly......family, is family! Why do we sometimes find it harder to forgive family for wrong doing? Why is it easier sometimes to do wrong by family? I stand guilty as charged on both counts.....if we are all honest with each other.....at times, we all are. This week, my Aunt Mary Frahm became a widow because a young man decided to drive his vehicle while still intoxicated thinking he had slept it off. If anyone has the proverbial right to be angry and unforgiving.....it would be her......but she is not. My Aunt Mary has handled it all with the grace, peace, and unconditional love of God. Instead of being angry and unforgiving, she is praying that this young man will find the love of our Heavenly Father. She is praying that he will become a part of our Heavenly family and reside with us in Heaven someday. I know that may not make sense to most people, but it does to me and it speaks volumes to my heart! Aunt Mary has hard days ahead but you know what.....with her attitude of forgiveness and love, she will not have to live her life bogged down and chained to a heart filled with anger, unforgiveness and bitterness. WOW, note to self.........this is how we can avoid those things that bring us down and affect our health and our happiness. I know I am a bit all over the place here, but I am so thankful for the time I was also able to spend with my family from around the US. Minnesota, Florida, NC, and Georgia were represented. I missed our family from Oklahoma and California, but they were in our hearts. Another jolt we had in our family was finding out my mother-in-law, Carolyn Stacy will be going in for surgery on Monday because she has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Hello......we were not expecting that one either! BUT GOD! I am thankful for Bud and Carolyn and for Chris's brother Greg and his family! We will get through the tough times with grace as we love each other and care for one another......no matter what. Anyone reading this post, please hear this one thing if you hear nothing else. Be thankful for your family! I know that there are those out there who may not have family that seems worthy of your thankfulness and for that I am sorry, however.....be thankful anyway! I know this may sound strange but when you are thankful.....it changes YOU! Find even the most minuscule thing to be thankful for and build on it! If you can start with being thankful for being brought into this world it is a start. If there is nothing else to be thankful for with your family, then be thankful you can pray for them and love them from afar! Being thankful does not mean being a doormat or allowing yourself to be hurt, but it does mean you can be thankful to forgive.....and still keep up boundaries to protect yourself. OK, now I have definitely been around the world with this one! Today and everyday......I am thankful for MY family! Thank you Mom and Dad for teaching me to love God and to put others first over myself (a continuing process!), thank you Leslie and Luisa for loving me when I was not a very lovable sister......thank you Chris for loving me when I was not a pleasant wife at times....thank you for hanging in with me! Bubba, Candice, and Chelsea......thank you for loving me when I at times was not the best mom.......but know I have always loved each of you since before you were born! Thank you to Tanner, Devon, Carly and Tidus who love me without question! Thank you Tammy, Josh and soon to be son-in-law Christian for accepting me as your family! I am thankful for each and every one of you! Also, I want to thank Rene, our son in Honduras for loving me and allowing me to be his loco american mom who loves him as much as the children God blessed me with by birth......also to Noe' our son who just joined our family this year from Honduras! I AM SO BEYOND BLESSED!!!!!! THANK YOU FATHER FOR MY FAMILY!!!!!!
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