Blessings

I have always been grateful for the blessings in my life even through the times where it's been hard put to find those blessings. But I consider myself a person who does try to find the positive in almost any situation. Right now, more than at any other time, I am grateful for being able to stand in my own kitchen, in my own home, fixing banana pancakes for my children who are healthy, and a husband who still has a job, when a mom I know has been living at Primary Children's Hospital with a one week old baby in a tiny room while her son fights for his life a second time in the last 4 years. Eric is a 5th grade student at WVE, battling leukemia again. His first time around was in 1st grade. I spent several hours at the hospital yesterday holding baby Lila and visiting with his parents. This family lost their home and rents out a basement, and the dad was just laid off. Lila is Eric's best hope for a bone marrow transplant and the family is waiting for the results. I am blessed with family, friends and co-workers who are able to help meet a few of the many, many needs of this family. Prayers for a miracle for this family are needed by all.
When visiting this family, no crying was allowed in the room as it stresses Eric out so I was strong, though, throughout the afternoon, a cloud of sadness was hanging over me. It wasn't until I was at James' Velocity training, watching my healthy son do something that he loves, that GOD thought I needed to release all this emotion, which I proceeded to do in front of his soccer coach when he asked how I was! In fact the only time I wasn't emotionally having a breakdown in the two hours I was there, was when I was on the phone with a friend trying to distract myself. Being a mom, watching those boys be able to do so much while seeing Eric in the hospital battling leukemia again, watching his mom so desperately praying her son lives through this just hurts my heart. My heart still hurts to this day for a friend who lost her precious daughter a few short years ago. We all hurt when a friend hurts; when a child is hurting or lost. But being a MOM makes it all so much more personal because we can feel that other mother's pain like it was our own. People say that you don't know what it's like to lose a child, and you can't imagine what that feels like until you've been through it yourself, but I believe a Mom, who loves her children with all her heart, knows what that other mom feels. I, and so many other people are praying for God to give this family the miracle it needs. Lila is Eric's hope. I don't want another mom I know to lose a child that I know.
So hug your kids, be grateful and feel blessed for what you do have right now.
I know I am.