Musings from Lot 12
Musings from Lot 12

Musing on blessings.

The other morning I encountered a very good friend (lets call her Ann) and asked her how things are. She replied that her whole world was collapsing in and there was nothing she could do about it. As she is not given to hyperbole I asked her to explain.

First some background
Ann got out of a BAD marriage several years ago with two good kids and her sanity pretty well in tact. She is as resiliant as they come. After a year or so of licking her wounds and trying the dating game she met a guy, newly widowed and although he looks a little rough he is a gem. Stan was just what Ann needed, someone with a steady job and who respects her and treats her very well. They have been living together for a couple of years and plan to marry in 2007. I have known her for over ten years and have never seen her happier. Things are working out. Oh ya, she about 45 and Stan is 58.

Now the story - Tom came into the relationship with 3 children including a daughter who has addictions to alcohol and intervenous drugs. She also has an 8 YO son who has fetal alcohol syndrome and has been in and out of foster care for a good part of his life. His Mom has lately fallen off the wagon in a huge way and what low grade parenting instincts she had have pretty well evaporated. The CAS stepped in a couple of weeks ago and took the boy. This is the last time. So now Ann and Stan have to choose between taking in their grandson or see him put up for adoption and perhaps lose all contact with him. Stan's health is not the best, he has a physically very demanding job and they both work shift work. Stan is looking forward to retiring in a couple of years. As she said they don't know if they have the strength to deal with a child who has the problems that this young lad does. But they are going to take their grandson and as she said to me "I'm going to be a mother before I'm a bride!"

This got me to thinking how blessed I am in the child department (although neither of my sons have been children for a long time. Both are holding down good responsible jobs and both are in strong loving relationships. Both of our daughters-in-law are smart, witty, determined, beautiful and a joy to be around. We are truly so blessed. They keep us involved in their lives even though they are physically a long way away. They call, they email, they send gifts and they come to visit when they can. Depending on the topic they ask for or offer advice. It is so reassuring to have your own personal computer advisor even if he is half a continent away!

I miss having my sons close to me but I accept that this is part of life. I am so proud of them and what they have accomplished. God has truly blessed me and my family.

Have a happy weekend everyone.