Wasn’t until I stood on my former 8th grade teacher’s porch, a week before ordination in June of 1966 that “gratitude” became common and necessary. I went to Miss Agnes Carter’s home, she retired a number of years before I believe, to thank her for preparing me for ministry. Yes, somehow being able to diagram sentences, know it is “he’s better than I” and not “he’s better than me” is proper. Knowing the prepositions and being and linking verbs…helped in this world demanding communication. She didn’t know who I was and didn’t understand what I had said in affirmation of her teaching. I stood on the porch and wept…I was too late in gratitude to her…but promised God I would NEVER be tardy again. Try my best to keep that promise.
Yesterday I shared our gratitude to the doctors and nurses in Jason’s ICU room, for their continued skill, wisdom and knowledge and tremendous caring spirit. Some took me aside to comment in this manner, “Thank you for your gratitude, it helps more than you’ll ever know.” I even affirmed Suzanne, the primary ICU nurse for Jason, “You come to us as an angel impersonating a human being.” And. Meant it fully!
So, this morning, Saturday, January 13, 2018 I am grateful. As I throw pitch after pitch to strike down the foe, Jason’s illness, and hope there are more strikes unhittable than wide of the plate.
Of course the road ahead is not guaranteed, but we are encouraged, knowing that the illness hitting the pitch can always occur. Not for details, but Jason’s blinking his eyes upon requests, wiggling his toes, squeezing his hand, all signs that the road to recovery is being taken.
We don’t hold our breath. Rather, we breathe and offer prayers of gratitude to God that we are not alone. So many of you have shared your support and prayerful spirits. It makes only for the good, for comfort and inner peace.
We continue throwing the ball and look with hope that someday the illness will throw down the bat and walk away. Nothing wrong with hope. And absolutely nothing wrong with gratitude.
Miss Carter smiles from heaven and says, “Mark, do good and do it well.”
