You Just Never Know...

I heard a story this morning about a woman who went to the gym and was not feeling well.  She went home to lie down and never woke up.  No one is sure of the circumstances of her untimely passing yet.  The speculation is blood clot or stroke.  What I am sure of however, is that this forty-something wife and mother of four, whom I've never met, has made me stop what I'm doing and take a moment to thank God. 

I thank Him for my health...even though the past few days I am fighting off what I hope is not the flu. 

I thank Him for my husband.  Having a newborn has changed the dynamics of our relationship and even tested it a little.  I know that God is guiding us and giving us patience with each other. 

I thank Him for that sweet boy whose nose and bottom I get to wipe each day.  I know these tasks seem monotonous and not something one would be thankful for, but I am.  I know there are men and women who pray every day to have a snotty nose to wipe and a crying baby to console.  I hope that their prayers are answered because being a parent is truly amazing.

I thank God for Bailey.  She has taught me lessons I did not even know I needed to learn, and I love watching Jason's eyes light up when he spends time with her. 

I thank Him for my friends and family.  Without their love and support I would not exist.  I am so blessed to have such wonderful people in my life.  I know that I could pick up the phone at anytime of the day or night and there would be a supportive voice on the other end.  Willing to lend advice, offer comfort, constructive criticism, and give unconditional love... always.  For that I am eternally grateful. 

Over the past few days I have heard news stories about people taking their own lives, and the lives of their children or estranged spouses.  It makes me physically ill to think that their are people out there who could stare into the innocent eyes of their child and then knowingly hurt them or worse...
I'm sure that this forty-something wife and mother of four would have loved to look into her children's eyes one last time.  Or kiss her husband one last time.  My heart breaks for the father who is now without a partner that he has had for over twenty years.  It breaks for those precious babies who will go through graduations, weddings, and other milestones without their mother.  I pray that God wraps his arms around them and comforts them during this time.  He obviously needed her to do work for him in Heaven, but I'm sure they will struggle to understand why she couldn't stay with them here. 

I thank God that he has given me one more day to tell those in my life how much I love them and what they mean to me.  I thank Him for my life and His unconditional love.