Thursday, June 24, 2010

My dearest God,

It was after 1:00 a.m. when I heard the sound of car doors slamming. I knew what that meant. I lifted my covers and shot downstairs. The first sight of my daughter warmed my heart. We live just five minutes from each other and we've been apart for several weeks this summer. I got to the door just in time to welcome her inside. We hugged as I gave thanks for her safe arrival.

I remember my daughter's birth. She was nearly 11 pounds and 23 inches. Although I wondered where I put her inside me, I was so happy to embrace my number two daughter. That was 40 years ago this September.

Jenni was the middle child, the peacekeeper in the family. She took care of me when I had complications from breast cancer and subsequent surgeries. She's a wonderful daughter. She had cancer too and was blessed to have survived it. For whatever reason or reasons you spared her life and kept her going in a pregnancy that lasted another seven months following the cancer surgery. What can I say but thank you?

You are
a gracious
and beneficent god.
How many
thank yous
does it take
to express
real gratitude?
Thank you
for my daughter,
all her gifts,
talents and love.
I am
very grateful.

Thankfully, Andrea