Counting Blessings

Through the holidays I have had the opportunity to reflect on the many blessings of my life and extended family.  Thirty plus people ranging from 96 years old to 4 months old share holiday celebrations in one form or another.  One stroke survivor who, at this point in her recovery, you would never know had ever had a stroke.  Ditto one cancer survivor who had a double mastectomy, chemo and radiation.  A beautiful bald new mom who miraculously has no indicators of the metastatic breast cancer that challenged the final weeks of her pregnancy.  Her healthy chubby-cheeked son and his 4 year old and 2 year old cousins were the delight of this holiday.  A mom, her mobility increasingly limited by MS, allowed her teenage son to carry her in piggy-back style.  The matriarch, my momma, is profoundly hearing impaired but happily gave directions from her “throne” – everything from “the doughnuts must be cut in half” to “put the ham buns on the Santa platter, NOT the elf platter”.  Lots of talking and laughing and noisy toys.  Too much food. 

I am also deeply aware that these people and traditions I treasure are ever-changing and only here for a brief moment of eternity.  I remember my nieces, nephew and great-nephews when they were born -- and those "children" are adults or near adults.  I miss the patriarch, my daddy, who died 4 years ago.  I miss the younger woman my mother once was who decorated her home and cooked from Thanksgiving to CHRISTmas for her neighbors and family.  I miss my healthy husband who would play with the toddlers and participate in the after-gifts basketball games. 

And I am blessed.  Blessed to have stored up the memories of love and joy that give me comfort in this season of change and loss.  Blessed to have a family that adjusts to whatever challenges come our way.  Blessed to have a family who rallies together when one is suffering.  Blessed to have a family that embraces new additions and grieves losses together.