My Word

We know life is short, things can change in the blink of an eye. One minute the people you love are healthy and happy, surrounding you with joy and laughter. The next they could be gone.

I don’t like to live my life thinking about what if, and I don’t, because I have lived the “what if”. But I do allow it to give me perspective. I allow it to be the reminder of how very lucky I am.

I have 4 healthy children, 1 on the way and 1 waiting on the other side. I have a husband who loves me and loves our children. I have a home, food to eat, clothes to wear, and enough to share with others. I am not rich by the world’s standards, but, I am so very wealthy.

I have love in my life.

My life isn’t perfect (as evidenced by recent posts) but it is mine. I am allowing it to teach me, help me grow and become a better person.

Sometimes all we need is perspective. Sometimes we forget the lessons we’ve learned and then in a blink of an eye, we remember them again.

This last weekend a dear friend lost her sweet husband. She is only 26. She is pregnant with twins, due in April – these are the babies they have worked so hard, and waited so long for.
And now he is gone.

When I heard the news I cried. I cried for her, I cried for those babies, I cried for his parents, I cried for him. I remembered all the pain, the sadness, the pleading and longing I felt when a part of my soul was ripped away from me.

And then I held my babies and my husband tighter. I smelled my children more, I laughed more, I played more.

I hate that it takes a tragedy to remind us to be grateful for what we have. I hate that it takes something so huge to urge us to do what we already should be doing, Loving our families.

I have avoided the “word of the year” theme that people do for one reason – I couldn’t think of one. But as I sit here writing, it is staring me in the face. This year will be my year of being present, of enjoying my family and being Grateful.

That is my word – Gratitude. I want to actively remember how blessed I am and show that gratitude to God in all I do and say. I want my children to know how grateful I am for them. I want my husband to know how blessed I feel to be his wife.

This year, I am actively focusing on Gratitude and being grateful for the tremendous amount of blessings I have.

~just write