Thursday, November 18, 2010

"Why Thanksgiving Always Comes Early for Me"

Next week around this time most of us will be experiencing a food coma to varied degrees as our Thanksgiving festivites start winding down.

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However, since 2003 Thanksgiving has always come about a week early for me.  In 2003 on Nov. 17th my son survived open heart surgery to work on a heart defect  Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF).  He had the surgery when he was exactly five months old. The months leading up to the operation were often an emotional roller coaster which involved numerous doctors appointments.  Yet through it all we (my wife Tara and I) were able to see the thread of God's faithfulness.

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No one can prepare for that kind of journey.  Through my vocational experiences as a pastor of nearly 20 years I have had a front row seat to the depth of human tragedy.  Through the years I have watched many go through these trials courageously holding onto their faith and trusting in God during these seasons.  I would often say to myself "I do not know how they do it."  The second thing I would say to myself is "I could never bear what they are going through."  Yet I have learned when you are in it, God gets you through it.

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One of the ways he got us through it was the thousands of prayers lifted up for our family from our friends, church and others whom we do not even know.  Yesterday marked 7 years since the operation.  Rhett is not completely out of the woods yet.  We have an annual echo-cardiogram that tracks the development of his heart valve.  So far every year we have been given a good report.

So as Thanksgiving will be celebrated as a nation next week I want to express my heart felt thanks to all of you who have prayed and continue to pray on my son's behalf.  Now you can understand why Thanksgiving always comes early for me.

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The pictures were taken last Saturday at the Phoenix International Speedway as we took in our first NASCAR race together.

Nov 18, 2010 7:10:55 PM | Life, People

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