Take a moment to be thankful....

mgfit1

The holidays are suppose to be so happy and for some - it's just not.  We adopted a family for Xmas this year and this morning I spoke with the mom of the family we adopted.  She is a single mom with 4 kids.  Her husband died of a heart attack 2 years ago and then right after that she lost her job (automaker supplier laid her off).  She is going back to school to complete her degree in social work right now and trying to work.  She is having a hard time making ends meet and it's xmas time.  She said she had to swallow her pride and ask for help because of her kids...she wanted them to have some kind of Xmas.  We are buying presents for the kids and food too and going to deliver it all on Monday.  I have been thinking about her all day and wondering what it would be like to be in her shoes.....it breaks my heart.  She said she kept praying for a miracle and put off asking for help from anyone thinking that God would hear her prayer and something would just happen.  She broke down and asked for help through our community assistance program.  I told her to let us be her "miracle" and let us help her kids smile on xmas.  God did hear her prayer.

Then - I get on here and read of a nestie's friend in the final stages of her life due to cancer and leaving behind two young children.  Another nestie mentioned someone she knew died today of leukemia.   I can't even imagine how these families are dealing with these situations.

All of these things really tug at my heart.  I feel so blessed right now.  Please take a moment to be thankful no matter what your situation is and if you can, try to do a little something for someone that may need some support....  maybe a prayer, a kind word or something financial - whatever you can do.  So many people are sad, lonely, ill or in need right now.

I just needed to get that off my chest today....thanks!

oparcm

I totally agree.  I know that I am truly blessed.

sooosie

I agree - it's sad that we need reminders but true.  I feel for those families also.

Sunflower777

Thank you for the reminder... you are right, we all need to stop and count our blessings sometimes, and try and help others who may not be as fortunate.?

sleepingbeauty

when i was growing up, my family would always take the first saturday in december to ring the bell for salvation army.  and we always made it a fun thing by playing music and handing out candy canes.  and that really set me up to love volunteering.  it also helped me to really put my own life in perspective.  later on when i was a teenager, we would adopt a family too.  i still do it through work too.  the only part i hate about it is getting the requests from, like, a 9-year-old kid asking for a winter coat.  or a mom asking for sheets or pots and pans.  it kills me that there are people who have so little that they have to ask for basic necessities as christmas presents.  a kid should ask for stupid, frivilous toys that they'll get bored with in two months, not a coat.  it just really puts my own fortunate situation really into perspective and all my stupid problems really become petty.  i'm usually a scrooge around the holidays (blame that on working retail), but doing adopt-a-family is always something i get excited for.

Tracy1011

yes, with all that life brings sometimes, it's hard to remember that as long as you have your health (your entire family) that's the most important thing. I learned that lesson when my dad died and thought I would never forget it, but find myself sometimes thinking I have it rough sometimes and then I read these types of stories and remember my pledge:  As long as we are healthy, we are lucky.

I feel so badly for people out there that go through things like this.  I admire these women that find the courage to go on when they lose their husbands and vice versa.  You are a wonderful person for adopting the family.