Friday, January 9, 2009

Give thanks for the healthy children in your life...

My friend Robbie just blogged about being thankful for his wife and it got me thinking about what I'm thankful for.

Of course I'm thankful for Kurt. I love him with everything I've got and I can't wait to live each day with him. He truly is an incredible human being.

And then I started thinking about my kids. St. Jude's Children's Hospital's tagline is "Give thanks for the healthy children in your life."

Many of you have probably seen advertisements for it on TV, in movie theaters while waiting for your movie to begin, on posters at bus stops, etc.

Every time I see it, it stops me dead in my tracks.

It's such a simple message.

Give thanks.

So simple.

So powerful.

Nothing brings parents to their knees faster than when their child is suffering...

Having healthy children is such a precious gift. And it's so easy to take it for granted.

I love my kids so much. And I'm so blessed that they are strong and healthy...

(Okay, so I'm sorry for being all serious.

"Serious Heidi" is usually locked away and kept under strict surveillance because she's so profoundly uninteresting. However, she does get out every once in a while and must be placated.

You'll be happy to know that I have fed her a chocolate brownie, allowed her to watch a Law & Order Criminal Intent marathon and told her to shut-up.

So she should be good for a while...)

8 comments:

Brazenlilly said...

No, Serious Heidi is good for us, and this post is SO TRUE. Whenever I find myself complaining (internally or outloud) about the day-to-day grind, the sameness of everything, the chores I do over and over and over and over...I remind myself of how I would feel if one of my children were seriously ill. I think of the people who do have to go to St. Jude's. I guarantee they would GIVE ANYTHING to be back to the daily grind. To have boring chores to do and not have to worry about if their child is in pain or not--or worse. Thanks for another reminder--it's not unwelcome!

Diane Davis said...

great post. i love serious heidi. i have been serious diane on my blog for far too long. i'll try to be funny soon, just for you. oh, but when people try to be funny they end up looking like fools. what's a girl to do?

SingingShrink said...

i'd say you've got a nice way of saying things either way, serious or funny. good post!

Erika Mills said...

I like serious heidi too! what a sweet post :)

Steve Johnson said...

I love the post. I was just talking about this today with someone - I was talking about how Isaac sucks the life out of me sometimes he's so busy and chatty and "full-on" all the time and she said "well, be thankful that he is so intelligent and healthy"....she was COMPLETELY correct and I was thankful to be reminded what I am ALREADY profoundly grateful for. My children are both flat out miracles (as are yours) and Praise God for the reminders.

Rick said...

I fell in love (platonic, of course) with the serious Heidi before I knew there was a funny one. I didn't know you were funny until the bat attack in the swimming pool (I know, "shut up"). About once a week, Jan and I talk about how the grandkids sometimes get on our nerves, but that beats the daylights out of the days coming when they won't have time to get on our nerves. Enjoy those precious ones every minute you're not exasperated with them. Signed, Serious Rick

Kristi said...

I try to remind myself of this often. And when I do, I think of how strong these amazing parents are who have to walk through these difficult journeys with their children. I can't imagine.

Thank you Robbie & Heidi for reminding us of how blessed we truly are.

Stacey said...

As you can see...I'm catching up on blogs...love this pic of you and your man! I love reading your blogs serious and/or funny...they're the best!!!