A Thought about Firsts

We have had all kinds of firsts today. Today, Tammy "got voice" and tonight, she gets chocolate milk! Let me tell you how amazing that makes me feel. We are celebrating in the back and in the waiting room. It is really funny because our waiting room friends are all volunteering to go get the chocolate milk. She also got to leave the sixth floor for the first time. She actually traveled down stairs to the radiology dept. for the swallow study. Like everything with Tammy, it was a bit like a party. She knows all the radiologists down there by name, so they had a blast picking on each other.

With all the celbrating though, I can't help but think about an interview I heard on Focus on the Family this morning. Dr. Dobson was interviewing a family who lost a daughter in an automobile accident. The morning after she was killed their other daughter said, "This is our first sunrise without Whitney." Immediately, I felt thankful to God that those kinds of firsts were not the ones we were experiencing. You know, there is nothing as sobering as a loss to bring perspective, and no one makes it through life without losing someone or something of great value. Do yourself a favor, friend, start valuing the little things now. The smell of a sweaty little boy after playing outside. The dimple in the cheek. The sound of laughter. The feeling of arms wrapped around your neck. The taste of chocolate milk. The feeling of rain on a summer morning. And, as you treasure all you have been given, think of someone who is traveling through their firsts since loss. First Mother's Day. First Father's Day. First day in the church pew alone. First time the flower's bloom. First time for whatever matters. Then, give that person a call and tell them you are thinking of them.

G. - You are in my prayers today.