Thankful Thursday

I have shared here many times how thankful I am for my family. The Lord has blessed me with a wonderful husband and terrific children. While I have expressed this same thanksgiving many times, I must express it again this week.

You see, I have been reminded me in a very real way how very fortuanate I am to have these three terrific people. And, not just that they have been a part of my life, but they are still with me in a physical sense.

Late Monday afternoon one of my co-workers received the type of call none of us ever wants to get. He works out of our California office and lives there with his family. On this afternoon his wife and two daughters, along other extended family members, had gone to the beach for the afternoon. As his youngest daughter was wading in very shallow waters, she was swept away in a riptide. His wife immediately went in to rescue her. Both were swept further out and did not live.

In the blink of an eye he lost both his wife and his youngest daughter. I cannot even begin to express to you my heartbreak for him and his surviving daughter. As I have prayed for them both this week, I have also realized once again how very fortunate I am to have my family close by my side each day.

As we go into a fun-filled holiday weekend, I plan to hold each member of my family a little closer, love them a little harder, and make sure each of them knows how dear they are to me. At the same time, I'll be praying many prayers of thankfulness for the gift God has given me.

To join us in sharing our thanksgivings this week, visit Lynn at "Spiritually Unequal Marriage".