Giving Thanks

Last week I was telling a friend that Jared's scans came back clean, that he was in "clinical remission" and we're very relieved and happy. He said, "you have a lot to be thankful for this year!" (referring to Thanksgiving). Of course, I agreed, but added, "as does anyone. And how much more thankful, those who did NOT have cancer before becoming healthy, right?" "Good point." he said.

Which made me think about how we tend to be most thankful for our day-to-day lives after something has upset them. It's always a crisis that makes us appreciate the little things. I'm not sure that I like the idea of imagining all the bad things that could happen in order to appreciate the blessings you have now, but somehow it seems necessary sometimes.

So this is a reminder to me and everyone to give thanks for the things you normally take for granted. Thank God for your health today. Thank God for your family, your home, your job, your car, your friends, your country, your freedom, your faith, your body, your mind, your education, your opportunity, your hair, your feet, your fully-functional pinky finger. Thank God for all.

And thank you all, readers and friends, for everything you've done for us. It's made a world of difference. I explained to my family on Thanksgiving that the help we received didn't play out like lots of different bits of help. It played out like everyone contributing to a collective pool of support that carried us forward through this ordeal. Thus little and big things alike were essential to making it. We really can't thank everyone enough.