Thursday

While I was out of town I jotted down something I was grateful for each day, and here is Thursday's:

I am grateful that my family and I are in reasonably good health, with no disabilities.  I know that that could change at any moment, so I don't want to take it for granted, but to express gratitude for it.

I was privileged to meet someone on Thursday who brought this to mind --  A gentleman in his early fifties who, three years ago, fell 15 feet from a ladder and is now a paraplegic.  He was fortunate to have a wonderful support net of family and friends.  When he was coming home from rehab his wife told him that some friends had arranged a welcome home party for him.  Although he was grateful for their kindness he was a little wary about that going on the very first day he was home.  But when they got to their house he found that it wasn't just any ordinary welcome home party.  His friends and family had altered his home, so that there were no doors he couldn't get through in his wheelchair, there were ramps at every outside door, safety bars in appropriate places, etc., and a lot of other re-modeling had taken place.  These friends had totally cleaned the house from top to bottom so his wife could stay with him at the rehab facility, and when he got home there was music, food and a lot of good cheer.  It was emotional, yes, but it was not uncomfortable.  This man's outlook on life and his happiness could have been devastated by the accident, but he is really an inspiration.  He is thankful for being alive and for what he has, and his family are so grateful that they didn't lose him that day he fell.