The glass is half full

Last night, for the first time in about 4 months, we sat down together, just the six of us, and had dinner together. Bobby dished up a plate of food just like the rest of us, and did his best to eat. I don't know if the kids even realized how significant it was for him to be sitting there with us, it was just another normal, rowdy, silly time for them. After the kids finished and disappeared to play or finish homework, I got up to go do dishes. Several minutes later Bobby was still at his plate, all alone, painfully trying to finish his food. A snowball of thoughts sort of hit me at that moment.

First, all the raw emotions came back, and I was nearly brought to tears by the pain and immense difficulty he has faced for so long. Can't he just be better now? When will this end? Something so simple as eating and sleeping are difficult chores for him. I know that I (and everyone else) don't even realize just how bad it's been for him... he simply endures quietly without complaining.

My thoughts then turned, however, in another direction, as they often do when I'm feeling down. I told myself that things could be so much worse. Right now at this moment, someone is dying in a tragic car accident. Right now, somewhere in the world, there are mothers despairing because their children are literally starving to death, and they are helpless to change their destitute situation. Right now, there are families in anguish over a terminally ill child, spouse, parent, friend. Right now, there are millions who are suffering from some form of physical, verbal, sexual abuse. Right now there are millions who live without freedoms and opportunities that we so frequently take for granted here.

The fact is, life isn't fair. It never will be. We will never know why some seem to pass through their mortal journey with one challenge after another, while others appear to have "their cake and eat it too." We all, at one time or another, pass through a refiners fire. It is up to us to decide- am I going to let the flames burn and consume me? Or will I come out of this more pure, stronger, changed. I am certain that if our attitudes are full of gratitude, we can pass through our trials and triumph over them. I am grateful for what my family has gone through for nearly 4 months. I will cherish always the things I have learned and the experiences we have had. And when I feel the weight of our trials beating me down once again, I will remember what Bobby recently said "The Lord is trying to bless us." The glass is half full...The glass is half full...The glass is half full...