Life has a funny way of teaching us lessons through unexpected events. Sometimes, what appears to be frightening and overwhelming turns out to be a important reminder of our priorities and values. It's in those moments of intense fear and uncertainty that we often find clarity and perspective on what truly matters in life.
Last week's event proved that theory to me. What started as a typical day took a scary turn when my son woke up seeming unwell. At first, I brushed it off as a stomach bug, but things quickly escalated. Within hours, we found ourselves in a frantic rush to the hospital as my son's appendix had ruptured. The fear and anxiety I experienced was by far the worst I had ever had, and frankly still do.
As he underwent emergency surgery to have it removed the experience was a stark reminder of how life can change in an instant. During his surgery, I found myself consumed by racing thoughts, feeling guilty and angry at myself for various things. I regretted working too much and not spending enough quality time playing with my kids or engaging in meaningful conversations with them, instead being lost in endless scrolling on my phone. Or my mind becoming preoccupied with worries beyond my control, pulling me away from being fully present with my children.
After his surgery and the next few days in the hospital as he was recovering, I began to have gratitude toward God for my child's life-threatening situation. I realized that we can have gratitude for things all day long and still not fully embrace it. When our lives become somewhat stable and nothing to shake it up, we forget really what is so valuable around us. It's only in those terrifying moments that we find ourselves screaming in prayer, pleading for just one more chance or time with them, promising not to take it for granted. These experiences remind us of the fragility of life and the importance of cherishing every moment with our loved ones, of expressing gratitude not just in words but in actions, and of holding onto hope even in the darkest of times.
As much as we hate it, those events are what keep us grounded to what's really important to us and really matter. We need bad experiences as much as good experiences in life to renew our priorities. Because of last week, each morning when my children have awoken from their beds and trotted into the living room, the joy I feel to know they're alive, healthy, and mine could only come from last week's events. Next time your life throws you an event that shakes you, watch what suddenly you realize is important to you. Embrace the difficult times as they can lead you to appreciate the true blessings in your life.