Next Thursday, November 26 in the US we celebrate Thanksgiving, it is an annual celebration every 4th Thursday in November, where we gather with our families and commemorate the occasion by eating turkey and giving thanks to God for all of our blessings throughout the year.  It is a time of gathering, fellowship, laughter, food, football, and love for many families.  I have seen a trend on Social media during November where people are posting daily/weekly what they are thankful for.  Can I be honest with you?  It has been difficult for me to be thankful for all of Max’s special needs.  I’ve mentioned in a post before how I questioned what does healthy look like.  From crisis to crisis and hospitalization to doctor appointment I always questioned to God why and what did we do to have a child with so many medically complex needs.  My social media friends and associates “what they are thankful for” posts make life seem so much easier and full of joy with their typical kids, and I want that normal life so much for Max.

1 Thessalonians 5:18  in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:18 the bible says that in EVERYTHING give THANKS, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  Now, if you have had a tough year like me, I know you are thinking how do I give thanks with everything I’m going through?  How do I find peace within my storm?  How do I say thank you to God for the many health, eating, gross and fine motor challenges my child has faced?

How do we give thanks in everything we are going through?

1. Learning how to give thanks for the small victories.  A small victory for me is going into every doctors appointment and hospitalization stay knowing that I will take Max home.  I struggled with this throughout my pregnancies and subsequent losses, the thought of being able to finally bring a child home.  I had no doubt in my mind when he was on oxygen in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit that God would heal his body from the flu virus and he would come home.  This small victory is what I am thankful for, and for God giving me peace going into storms.
2. Learning how to be thankful for being able to provide for your family. Having a career/job that can provide for you and your family and having insurance that covers many medical expenses is a blessing.  For children who have many doctors appointments and multiple hospital stays throughout the year we are blessed to have insurance that covers most if not all the expenses.  I am thankful that my husband Brandon has the flexibility that he can stay at home with Max, take care of all his needs, and work on building his ministry.
3. Learning how to give thanks in the moment, in caring, in the crisis, even though you may not be thankful for the condition your child is going through.  I am learning how to give thanks in the moment even though I am not always thankful for the Cerebral Palsy diagnosis Max has.  I am thankful for those quite moments when Max looks me in my eyes and although he doesn’t say mommy I know he knows who I am and how much unconditional love I give to him everyday.

One day I know that God will give me peace about the Cerebral Palsy diagnosis and I will be thankful for the lessons learned.  Until, then I am going to continue to give thanks for the small victories, having a job to provide for our family, and being in the moment even though I am not always thankful for Max’s complex medical needs.

Stay Super, Mighty, and Blessed!

~Erica