chapter [ten]: giving thanks

"Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

1 Thessalonians 5:18

I am thankful that I am still alive.

I am thankful that I am able to walk and that I am not paralyzed.

I am thankful for parents that have very patiently and lovingly taken care of me because I have been unable to take care of myself.

I am thankful for friends that skipped MLB to save my life.

I am thankful for fantastic and funny nurses that distracted me for the fact that things were more serious than I thought.

I am thankful for all of the wisdom You have given my doctors.

I am thankful that I can tell people, "it's because my brain is so large!" when I say something super intelligent.

I am thankful that I can tell people, "well, you know know my skull is too small and my brain is being compressed," when I say something stupid.

I am thankful I have the MRI to prove my last two statements.

I am thankful that I no longer have a tumor in my spinal cord.

I am thankful that the tumor was benign.

I am thankful that the only issue from my tumor was nerve damage.

I am thankful for meds to help ease the pain of my "crazy legs" and still healing lower back.

I am thankful that I was sent to a neurosurgeon that specializes in Chiari Brain Malformation Type 1.

I am thankful that he only lives 2 hours away from me.

I am esp. thankful for the last two things since CBM T1 is very rare.

I am thankful for the love, prayers, understanding and support of my family and friends.

I am thankful for an understanding and patient boss.

I am thankful for an amazing assistant.

I am thankful for a "brother from another mother" friend to do all of my heavy lifting at work.

I am thankful for my Faith Family.

I am thankful for fun distractions.

I am even thankful for the not-so-fun distractions. Sometimes.

I am thankful for medical technology.

I am thankful that I lived a healthy life for almost 30 years.

I am thankful that it could be much worse and it's not.

I am thankful for the many lessons the LORD has been teaching me this year. I think I need to be a better student, though. :)

I am thankful that I know the Truth.

I am thankful for a much needed vacation next week to Florida!

And I am thankful in advance for your continued prayers. I am still not well and it's starting to look like I am going to have surgery next summer. (and that's okay. I have much peace about it.)