Smart FAMILY VALUES:
Cultivating Thankfulness

by Carlene Smart

Recently our family went through a series of stressful events. Financial sources dried up and, for three weeks, became non-existent. Bills couldn't be paid. It was looking like the children were not going to get their school supplies or any new clothes for school. Lack of groceries was stretching even my active "menu imagination". In short, things were looking really bad.

Ask and You Will Receive

For three weeks I prayed, not sure what was going to happen, yet trying to have a "mustard seed of faith". At one point, I had to go to the hospital, for fear I was having a heart attack. The final diagnosis? They told me I had experienced the monster of all panic attacks, and I should go home and try not to worry so much.

Then, just when it seemed that all was lost, wonderful things started to happen.

My daughter-in-law's mother decided she wanted to buy the kids new sneakers for school. My brother had extra money come in, and he gave it to me so I could get the children's school supplies. My sister bought my son several pairs of pants and shirts. My half-sister, who lives three hours away, sent groceries and some money to buy meat. And my son helped me catch up the rent. I was so thankful.

Email to God

It was then that a friend of mine, who teaches my daughter piano, sent me an email. I'll share it with you, and I'd like you to think about.

I believe we need to cultivate a thankful attitude. We need to praise our Savior, no matter what our circumstances. He trusted us enough to let us have our burdens so that we might learn better what He can do for us -- if we let Him.

My friend's son has had Leukemia and has disabilities. Later, her husband became ill and was found to have Cancer. Listen to her words, keeping in mind that this was written right after doctors had performed a procedure on her husband to reduce the fluid from a stomach tumor, then "accidentally" gave him a week's worth of Chemotherapy in one day.

Dear Lord,

Thank you so much for your answers to our prayers. I am sitting here amazed at all that has transpired today. My cup is full and brimming with your blessings.

Thanks for the negative test results for Z (the child who has had Leukemia)-- he just has a cold. You even answered the unasked prayer about his squealing hearing aids. I was so surprised when Dr. Noble pulled out a big chunk of wax from his right ear! His squeaky hearing aids have been a problem at school for a week now. Dr. Noble said that would definitely make them squeak!

Lord, thank you for P's CT scan and what that showed. P's bowel was clean! No poop, AND more importantly, no cancer or tumor! He can stop taking laxatives, so I am praying that will stop some of the discomfort that he has been having! The doctor's are concerned with the fluid that is making his abdomen distended-they have said that this is an affect of the type of cancer that he has. Lord, you know the problem, and you have already answered these prayers, but I lift this situation up to you. There is talk of removing the abdominal fluid through an ultrasound, but he must be a bit more stable before that procedure is done. The doctor's are still concerned about stopping the anticoagulant, which they would have to do in order to perform the ultrasound to remove the fluid. I pray that by discontinuing the laxatives this fluid will just disappear.

Lord, I ask that you help P be able to tolerate the tube feeding, as he hasn't had any sort of nutrition for 3 days. Keep your hand on him, so that he can get nourishment, through both his J tube, as well as through his mouth. I just pray, Lord, that you will keep him comfortable.

I praise your name for all of these wonderful things that have happened today. Thank you for trusting ME with these burdens, and I bow before you in awe that you have been faithful to ME. Thank you thank you thank you!

Lord, please bless the time that P and I have together tonight. I am looking forward to my weekend with Z and J and our friends, other families who have been affected by childhood cancer. I am looking forward to this family retreat weekend, and I just stand amazed at how YOU have made all things work out so that I am able to go. Lord, please be with Mom in the car tomorrow as she drives up to Maine so that she can join us on this retreat weekend. And lastly, Lord, I just ask that you bless the time that Paul gets to spend with HIS mom and dad this weekend. And I ask that you will continue to work in all three of their lives, so that they are able to come to a place of peace...

Be with all of the family and friends that continue to pray for our family and hold us up with encouragement. YOU ARE AN AWESOME GOD!!

AMEN

Life Applications:

What can you find today to be thankful for?

Can you help lighten someone else's burden?

Would a change in attitude or perspective give your situation a different meaning?

Copyright 2002 by Carlene Smart
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