Remember to be Thankful

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I had my entire blog written and ready to post yesterday. This particular entry was just a vent for me, and the trouble I’ve had since my daughter has returned to school. But I will post that later this week. When I woke up yesterday, the story I have linked to below was leading the local news. Five people died in a horrible car crash and a 6-year-old boy is fighting for his life. He doesn’t know his mommy is among the five who were killed.

Three of the crash victims are siblings and their father is a local pastor, Ricardo Welch, at the Prayer Tower Church of God in Christ in St. Petersburg, FL. I know the family and they are very close to relatives of mine in the area. His daughters and a friend were returning from the church’s jurisdictional meeting in the Fort Pierce area. The roads were wet and the truck the little boy’s mother was driving began to hydroplane as she lost control and she hit the car the sisters were driving in. In an instant Pastor Welch lost three of his children, Lamour Welch, 29; India Welch, 24; and Tehira Welch, 18. Their friend, Antwayne Robinson, 25 was also killed. The driver of the pick up, Jennifer Zuniga, 30 was the final fatality. There was no alcohol involved, no texting while driving, it was just a horrible, tragic accident.

I can’t imagine the grief that all of the families are going through. And it will certainly be a test of faith for the Pastor who lost three of his children in seconds.  So I decided that for today it was better for me to be thankful and leave the venting for another day. I am thankful for the troubles I am having with J’s school because it means she is still here with me. Lately she’s been, a bit restless, walking in circles more while she reads and interrupting when I am talking with someone. Sunday afternoon I was at my wits end with it, but today I am thankful she is here to drive me crazy every now and then. My son is still a moody teen (although he is beginning to turn into a human being again), and as much as it irritates me to have to remind him to put his clothes away or work on his virtual class, he is alive, healthy and here for me to love, mold, and care for.

So today I ask that you all take a moment to read the article about these girls and to be thankful for every single moment you have with your children, even when they drive you insane. I am sure that when they got into the car to make their way home, their dad had no idea he would never see them again.

To all of the families involved in this crash and to others dealing with loss today, I pray for you, you are in my thoughts. I know comfort is a long ways off, but know that because of all of you, I am remembering the importance of thankfulness.

http://tinyurl.com/pb9slzy