Gratitude

 

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. It turns problems into gifts, failures into successes, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events….Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” Melody Beattie

 

Thanksgiving is about gratitude, about families, and about possibilities. Sometimes life is a struggle for families with special needs children, making it easy to forget the blessings and gifts our children are and bring to our lives. Sometimes we need to be reminded. I have started a blog with just a few things that I am thankful for as a mother of a son with 22q.11. I am hoping that you, the reader will comment and add the things you are grateful for.

I am grateful for my son Mike with 22q.11. He turned 32 years old this year. My life is richer, deeper, and fuller because he is my son. Mike has taken me to places in my heart and shown me worlds I would not have known existed, had it not been his presence in my life. Mike has taught me to look below the surface of things. I have learned to be less judgmental; he has taught me that there is always another unseen story behind impossible behaviors. I have learned to be accepting and flexible. Because of Mike, I have learned compassion. I have learned to be strong and unafraid.

I am grateful to have a name and explanation for his medical and psychological problems. Many medical professionals and scientists have attentively observed, questioned, and researched in order to bring understanding and hope to me and to thousands of other parents. Thank you!

I am grateful that my son Mike survived the severe burn ten years ago.

I am grateful for the amazing teachers, counselors, and medical professionals I have met. I have learned a lot from their wisdom.

I am grateful for the other parents of special needs children who have befriended and walked beside me in this journey.

I am thankful that Mike lives on his own in supported living and his life continues to be an adventure for him. He continues to learn and grow.