The thing about
Thanksgiving is that, aside from the insane amount of home cooked food that is
consumed, it asks people to stop for a few hours and take stock of all of the
things that they have to be thankful for.
I'll be honest, I am a glass half empty kind of gal and so it's easier
for me to bring to mind things that have not worked out so well, or worse. And so I do my best to stop with everyone
else and take in all I have to be thankful for:
7.
I
am thankful to watch my parents love on their grandchildren. I have seen them
smile more in the last 4 years than I can count and it fills my heart.
6.
As
ridiculous as it sounds, and I know many of you will laugh at this, I am so
thankful for our furry family members. My little girl loves them something
fierce and as for me, Lennon is this furry little bundle of love that soothes
my soul. And
5.
I
am thankful for our friends. I had
always feared that after losing Jack, there would be casualties; people that just
couldn't fit into our life as it is now, and there have been-and that had come
with its own sort of heartbreak. The
idea of losing anyone after losing our son seems like salt on an open wound.
And so, I thank God with every fiber of my being for the people in live that
take us where we are at any given moment and love us anyway, never asking for
more than we can give at the time.
4.
My
siblings. I am thankful for these beings that have seen me at my worst, gotten
me into and out of trouble, hugged and squeezed me when I've needed it most,
and have made me laugh until the tears poured down my face and I've been
gasping for air. Half of us have moved into the area and seeing them regularly
breathes some youth back into my lungs on a regular basis.
3.
I'm
thankful for Jack's Herd and what it is allowing me to do. I am thankful that the people I love have
helped me to build something for me to channel this great love I have for my
son into. I am thankful that out of tragedy, something meaningful can
grow. We will nurture Jack's Herd with
the love and careful attention we would have done with Jack himself.
2.
Sean.
For this sweet man I am more thankful for than I can possibly put into
words. I have been able to make it
through each day of the last 23 months solely because the love and patience he
shows me has convinced me that I can. If
fate is real, and this is the path that I was destined to walk, the universe
did me the ultimate act of kindness by sending Sean my way.
1.
And
lastly, Kennedy. This one needs no words or explanation of my thankfulness but
I will try and do my best. My heart
beats for this girl. I look at her and
listen to her talk, time slows and I think, "How will I ever repay this
tiny, beautiful, little soul for all she gives me?" Each time she smiles
at me or touches my face I am reminded how I have survived-her light wills me
forward, allowing me to put the pieces of my life back together as best they
can fit now. I am thankful for Kennedy in a way that takes my breath away.
And so, as you pile your plate full of
whatever goodness is served up today, take a quick minute. Think of something
or someone you are thankful for and tell them; show them. I, myself, do not
stop often enough, take a step back and stop breathing in the chaos long enough
to take in-really marinate in- all of the things I have to be thankful
for. The holidays make me sad now, there is no getting around that. I cannot help but notice the empty chair that will always be there. But I will tell you this though, my
friends, gratitude goes a long way in healing a broken heart.
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