Thankful

There is quite a long list of things for which I am thankful, and as we come into the official week of thanks, I am made mindful of the things for which I am most thankful.

There are all the small things like a conversation with my mother while sipping our favorite hot teas, having a roof over our heads, and comparative comforts. But when I think of the things that I really couldn't do without, it centers around three people. And when I look at those three people, I realize the abundance -- the overabundance with which I am blessed.

Do you realize that the divorce rate among couples with special needs children is much, much higher than in families without special needs children? I cannot really even imagine that because Noah has brought us so much closer as a family, but I have read that it is certainly the case. When my husband heard that statistic, he was highly offended. He is a family man through and through, and he adores both of his children. He has a wonderful relationship with them both, and he shows a great appreciation for me staying home and doing the program that I do with Noah.

Then there is Noah. The child we almost did not get to bring home from the hospital. We didn't know for five days after he was born whether or not he would ever come out of that neonatal intensive care unit. So there isn't a day that goes by that I don't praise God for getting to spend time with him. Every day has been a gift, no matter what challenges were faced that day. And I think there is a special blessing in that most parent can't fully appreciate what it means when they get to bring their children home. I think there is a special joy that I carry because I experienced that close call, and I've watched a couple of friends of mine who didn't get to bring their child home. I can tell you that they have a special appreciation of their other children. I don't think it makes me special or that "typical" parents are somehow not as good, they just don't have that experience.

Then there is Eli, who is special in his own way. I cannot describe the joy he brought into all of our lives. He makes every day just a little more fun. No, strike that. He makes every day a lot more fun. And the contrast between his birth and Noah's makes me that much more able to appreciate the ease that it was bringing him home 36 hours after he came into the world. And I think that Eli has an extra measure of compassion because of his brother. In any group of children, he is the one watching out for the others because he wants everyone to feel good and be happy. He is stubborn and determined, and though it gets him into trouble at times, I loves those traits in him.

So, am I more thankful for Noah, then? No. I just have a greater capacity within myself to appreciate how thankful I should be for all of the special people in my life because of the lessons I have learned through him.