Thankfulness is a VERB

The past few weeks have left me praying and asking God those "why" questions again. My heart breaks for a family near and dear to us. It breaks for a family I've never met in person yet thanks to their strength and faithfulness, I feel as if I know them. What do these two families have in common? They both have a young children with terrible illnesses. Diagnosis, treatments, and lack of treatments that have altered the way they function, live, and enjoy life.

What does this have to me, outside the empathy I feel for them? Many are unaware of what I'm about to share, some things are meant to remain private but as I journey into an unknown with someone dear to me, I wanted to share.

Well, a little over five years ago I remember the first time I watched our young daughter enter the "donut" for testing. The care, patience, and understanding of the technicians still amazes me today, a blessing I still count today. My daughter visited the "donut" a variety of times since then, all in hopes of determining what was attacking her system. I found myself on my knees, in tears, at the feet of Jesus asking "why".

The good news, each time she gently moved into the "donut", the results came back clear, with no cancer or other life threatening disease. The frustration became the four years of no diagnosis and doctors having to treat symptom rather than the route of the illness. 

I'm thankful to report, last year, about this time, the neurologist team at Golisano Children's Hospital in Rochester, New York were able to use ALL the various scans, blood tests, and other testing administered over the years, along with an updated CT Scan (now a teen, she didn't call it a donut) to determine the cause of the pain, the attack on her immune system, and the reason she struggled to function like a typical teenager. 

We are thankful God answered prayer and showed the doctors what testing needed to be done and then directed her to the right doctor. She continues to get stronger and most have no idea of this journey we traveled. She is a determined young woman, preparing and planning for her future after high school. Instead of "Why am I sick?" or "Why can't the doctors figure out what is wrong with me?" or the struggles that come with missing a lot of school and the absence of friends...our conversations and struggles are that of a typical and healthy teen.

Yesterday as I poured out my heart to my parents about the hurt and grief I feel for children with severe and life threatening diseases, my sweet teen came in the room with an attitude about her "busy schedule" this week. I didn't say anything but my father's words of wisdom humbled and reminded me...there was a time we prayed for normal and busy.

I'm thankful for this reminder and the hope it renewed in my heart. At one point, we didn't know what caused our daughter's poor health yet thanks to God answering prayer, we know. There were days of crying as I listened to her in pain and their was nothing I could do to help her. BUT...today, thanks to God, we know the cause and our burdens are "I need shoes for the semi-formal and we have no time to get them." 

Seize the day and enjoy each blessing God gives you ~ we don't know what tomorrow brings. God doesn't answer all our prayers the way we want yet HE ANSWERS ALL PRAYER, IN HIS TIME. May we continue to seek His face, wisdom, and direction in the depths of all life's circumstances - good and challenging.

What are you thankful for today?