Thankful (2)

I think I am pretty good at thanking people when they help me. It is easy for me to say thank you when Kevin brainstorms and plans a youth event, when Christi makes a brochure, when Joel cuts my grass, or when Bob buys me lunch (a weekly occurrence). I am seriously overcome with gratitude realizing that i could not or would not have accomplished what they did when they did it, had they not willingly given of themselves. For example, this week there have been 19 students volunteering all week long to help run kids kamp at church. They have been in acting roles, leading small groups, studying and preparing snacks (not that they have had to study to prepare snacks, but they have had to study lessons to teach and make snacks to eat) the week would not have happened without them. It is easy for me to see that and feel burdened to write them a card, call them and say thanks, or text and encourage them.

But here is my question or my struggle. How can i naturally see and express thanks to people who serve and care for me and so readily miss the everyday things worthy of thanks that make my life wonderful. For example, for the last two weeks, since Abe has been home, Katie has done a tremendous job. She has been breast feeding every three hours for two weeks now, which adds up to 112 times that she has had to be still and structure her time around feeding Abe. There is so much to be thankful for here, she has fought through the discomfort, disciplined herself to structure her time (day and night) around feeding Abe and saved us a lot of cash. Not to mention how special that time is between the two of them, that's 112 hours outside of non-feeding times that he has been held by his mother. Of course i am so thankful for that, but for some reason, i haven't thought to say, "Katie, thank you for being willing and committed to feeding Abe, it is such a blessing." Not that she told me to say that, but as we were talking about having him home and what the last two weeks had looked like, i had not even thought about the time, commitment and sacrifice of breast feeding.

I think this is a heart issue for me. Any idiot knows to be thankful when someone serves him. Who does not say thank you to someone who buys him lunch? I think this is the natural response for all of us. However, it takes a different mindset, a different heart, to process and think through the lives and actions of people in a way that you can see areas of sacrifice and service that you should be thankful for and acknowledge. The only other option is to believe that we deserve such treatment or service. It is so easy for me to overlook beautiful and selfless acts of service, things done by my wife, friends and the Lord. I love these words from Psalm 77, "I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds." I pray that the Lord create in me and you a heart disciplined and passionate enough to meditate on his works, as well as the lives and actions of those around us, that our hearts may be full of thanksgiving.

Thankful

Seven days ago Abel was the sickest baby in the special care nursery.  He had tubes coming out of his belly button that went into an artery allowing doctors to give him antibiotics and sedatives as needed.  He had a tube that went down his throat into his belly allowing doctors to feed him and remove excess air from his belly. He had a tube going down his throat which allowed doctors to insert a special type of medicine into his lungs.  He was wearing a CPAP which was giving him oxygen at highest level the nursery uses.  Most babies lose weight after they are born because such a large portion of their body is water, Abe, however, did not lose any water but gained additional fluid in his tissue and lungs.  He was swollen and unable to cry because of the tubes in his neck and could only release a subtle moan.  He was unable to transfer oxygen and carbon dioxide so he would grunt as he sucked in his belly and fought for air.  The only way that doctors were able to settle the fight that was going on within him was to put him to sleep.  I remember feeling helpless. 

There seemed to be two different types of babies in the special care nursery, both of which were transitional.  Katie and i watched young families come and go, some of which were transferred to Richland to receive specialized and intensive care and others were discharged, all the while we waited.  It was very hard because all of me wanted to believe that we were going home soon, but i identified all to well with the fear and pain that we saw in parents faces as they were moved to Richland.

The last week, however, has been amazing.  We watched Abe transition from a helpless patient in the hospital dependent on technology for life to a beautiful baby boy functioning perfectly without support. I am not sure exactly how prayer works, it is hard to understand why Abel was healed and why others were not. But i am convinced that it was the power and mercy of a mighty God responding to the prayers of his people.  Over the last week there have been dozens of people who have told me that they were praying for Abe.  I have heard about friends and families of friends and families whose grandma's church met to pray for Abel. He as been prayed for by church bodies all over Columbia.  Pastors from other church's large and small all over town have called me, come by the hospital and insisted on serving and praying for us. As I have watched you care for, love and minister to us my heart has been encouraged and filled with hope, confident that God moving, willing and Able to give life and restore health. 

Have you been praying for Abel? Has your grandma's church been praying for him? Has your sister from another state been calling you about him? Have you been praying anything specific for him? Will you post a reply for me telling us who you know that's been praying? I never want to forget what the Lord has done. I want to show and remind Abel of God's mighty strength, compassion and willingness to heal and give life to those that are weak and lacking. I am going to print off all of your reply's and put them in a special book for him. Thank you so much for the countless phone calls, visits, meals prepared, gifts given and acts of kindness displayed. Your support has carried us through this time.