‘Tis time to think of Thanksgiving Day as we celebrate with family, favorite foods, football and counting our bountiful blessings.
At our house that brings back vivid memories of Nov. 24, 2006.
That is the date we realized our precious blonde-haired granddaughter named Rebecca was not well. She had a constant ear infection, a scrape on her knee that wouldn’t heal, bruises on her little body that she called her ‘owies’. Then she’d started falling down and even cried out in pain when ‘grammy’ hugged “Black Friday” she had a doctor’s appointment where she was tested for anemia.
That night our world went out of control! A phone call at 9 p.m. told me that her blood test revealed ‘acute lymphoma-leukemia! Had a sword pierced my heart, the horror and pain couldn’t have been worse!
I fell on my knees with my Bible and it fell open to Psalms 34 – I prayed.
By midnight Rebecca was admitted to Children’s Hospital in their oncology ward. Our lives were filled with sleepless nights, flooding our hearts with fear as we watched her being pricked, poked, prodded as weeks of chemotherapy begin. So we prayed!
And indeed God heard our prayers as our ‘munchin’ was a good patient and adjusted to her new life. After six weeks, she came home for Christmas.
We didn’t need presents under the tree as having her home was the very best gift. So we prayed; she began a year-long treatment program at Children’s.
How excited she was to be chosen by the “Make-A-Wish” people, so off she went to that magical place, Disney World. She and her family stayed in their special resort.
How well I recall their activity center with shining stars of kids names in the ceiling; later I would learn those children had died. And we prayed!
As we gather to celebrate Thanksgiving this year, we see a vivacious teenager across the table – Rebecca now called ‘Becca’ is 15-years-old! She is on the honor roll, plays several different sports, and we’re reminded each day of what a miracle she is!
So daily we pray and practice “thanks-living” for GOD’s healing hand on our munchkin. And we pray for all those parents sitting by the bedside of their sick child. Philippians 4:6.
Libbie ‘Gramma’ Bennett