Today is Thanksgiving across the seas. If I were to look at my stats for this blog it would show me that most of my readers are from the United States (Ireland is second and India third in case you were wondering.) So with that in mind I thought I’d better get all American and wish everyone ‘Happy Thanksgiving.’ I know you can’t hear me but I even put on an American accent for you all.
To jump on the Thanksgiving bandwagon I thought I’d better write a special thanksgiving post. Here are my thoughts on being thankful.
Nothing in Life is certain. When I was young I dreamed big dreams,
but most of them came to nothing. I presumed that life would be long,
or at least as long as my grandparents was, but then Dad got sick with MND and we watched him die.
Life changed forever.
For a time my heart was broken. My Dads untimely death shook my world and I could no longer be sure of anything.
I felt it robbed me of a future.
Not just a future with my Dad but my own future, or at least the idea that I would have one.
Time marched on. I married and had four children, each one a highlight in my life.
As the days ticked by I came to realize I was wrong to worry about the uncertainty of life. Having children completely changed my thinking.
Yes there is a chance I may not have a future, but I did have a life.
Instead of thinking there may be no tomorrow I began to really understand and appreciate the miracle of today. Every minute of every day is a gift, not a given.
When young Daniel died I appreciated that even more. Not only was my life precious, so too were my children’s.
Next week will be Daniel’s fourth anniversary. Life for his family must surely at times be unbearable. There is rarely a night passes when I do not pause before going to bed to look at a photo of his happy smiling face and remember him and my Dad, as well as young Ben, Elma, Marion and others I have known whose lives were cut short way too soon.
As I go to bed I pass the closed doors of whatever number of my children who are at home,
and think of the ones who are away. Each night as I settle to sleep I smile to myself and say,
“Phew, another day over,
and we are all safe.”
Yer man tucked up beside me thinks this is a very pessimistic way to live.
He sees it as waiting for disaster.
I see it as thankful for today.
I am not sure which of us appreciates life more but personally I think I do.
For he is happy to take each day as it comes whereas I on the other hand am happy to live each day as it comes.
A subtle but significant difference.
photo credit: allegr0 via photopin cc
photo credit: marktrash via photopin cc
photo credit: marcel.roentzsch Erlebnisbauernhof Lindenhof Truthahn via photopin (license)
My thoughts on a page. 
You’ve got it right, Tric….live those days!
Yes Sue I’m trying to anyway! Happy Thanksgiving.
What a nice piece of positivity
It’s the best thing to do with each day. Thank you and here’s to another great day!
yes, such a good way to approach each day and what really matters. we learn this as we go through life with all of it’s ups and very hard downs.
Tric, I loved this post. Yes, nothing in life is certain. Lately, I’ve been grieving some major losses in life, but of course, losses are bound to happen. Thank you for this wonderful Thanksgiving post. We here in the US appreciate it!
Sorry to hear you are grieving losses. Life can be difficult sometimes. Delighted to hear you enjoyed the post, hope you enjoyed Thanksgiving too.