Twelve Things I’m Grateful for on the 12th

September 12.

It’s time for my gratitude list.

For those of you who don’t know why I do these lists…

The Accident that killed our son was late at night on August 12, 2013. The official Date of Death is August 13 because of the remote location. The official who could pronounce them didn’t arrive at the scene for 45 minutes. By then, it was after midnight. It took the first responders a long time to get the truck off the car so they could get the bodies out. For months, I thought often about The Accident and what I had lost that day.

For ten months the 12th brought me to tears. Actually, the depression started on the ninth or tenth and lasted for days. My husband says I was proactively depressed. Then, in the eleventh month, I decided to choose gratitude and healing rather than sorrow. Now, I am proactively grateful. Starting around the ninth of each of month, I begin thinking about and writing “Twelve Things I am Thankful for on the 12th”.

Here is my list today:

  1. Fluffy white clouds floating through the blue sky.
  2. Farmers who grow things all across our nation.
  3. First responders who go towards the danger to save lives, putting their own at risk.
  4. Small town gas stations. I’ve seen some strange things as I traveled this country, and I’ve met some wonderful people in small towns where I’ve stopped for gas.
  5. The group of bereaved parents who drove into Toledo last night to share their stories. We talked of our children, our lives, our grief, and our Lord. 
  6. The ability to read and study the Bible. Answers to so many of my questions are found in it. 
  7. Mystery. God’s mysteries. Some things I will not understand this side of heaven. I’m okay with that. God is much bigger than my pea-sized brain will ever understand.
  8. Opportunities to minister with my husband. I’m not sure where this is taking us, but the journey is amazing.
  9. My son who has become a grownup and who calls just to check on me when he knows I’m having a hard time, and who reminds me to breathe and pray.
  10. Tanner. The man who is caring for our home the next month. He’s a great guy, even if his beard does look shaggy at times. And he loves my puppies.
  11. Second chances. I got a few. I got a huge second chance when I asked forgiveness from  God. I’m grateful He made me a new creation and wiped away my old self and cleansed me from all unrighteousness.
  12. Giving second chances. To those who hurt me and to those who simply messed up. I don’t care if you’ve been to prison, so have I. Your prison had bars and guards. Mine was of my own making and was spiritual; it consumed me. The Judge, the King of Kings showed me mercy and set me free. I have been forgiven and given a second chance; how can I not give others grace and mercy when I have received much?

What are you grateful for today? Please share your list in the comments. Maybe you only have time to write one or two things, please share them with us.

I pray you all have a blessed week.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Accident was on August 12, 2013. For months the 12th brought me to tears. Then, about a year later, I decided to choose gratitude and healing rather than sorrow. Thus “Twelve Things I am Thankful for on the 12th”.

FAITH, Gratitude, healing, joy


KathleenBDuncan

I write about my life, my journey, my family, and my faith. I am wife to one, mom to seven with one in heaven, and grandmother to many. I am also full-time caregiver to my stepmom E who suffers from dementia due to Alzheimer’s. In my spare time I like to read, travel, crochet, bike, and play with our black pug Molly.

Comments (12)

  • Good morning! I love your post! Especially, # 10 Tanner. The man who is caring for our home the next month. He’s a great guy, even if his beard does look shaggy at times. And he loves my puppies.

    Last year, shortly after my son passed away, I started writing ‘Three Things I Am Grateful For’. It was supposed to be for 21 days. I surpassed that mark and kept it going for a few months. From doing this I was able to see that I was truly blessed in many ways even through the depths of my grief.

    My sons name is Tanner. He was a very caring, compassionate, and helpful young man. He occasionally wore a beard that did get rather shaggy at times as well. He loved puppies too. He passed away suddenly last summer on Friday, the 7th of August, 2015.

  • Miss Kathleen ~ I remember dreading the 9th for the same reasons (my Ethan passed on the 8th, but I died on the 8th, but I did not find out until the morning of the 9th). I found myself shying way form the 9th of a few months. I am better now. I worked last week on the 6th anniversary.
    I am grateful for people I can share this with, people who my pain is not too much for them.
    I am grateful for the loving people in my life.
    I am grateful for the 19-years and 110 days I got to love my Ethan, in person.
    I am grateful for the air in my lungs
    I am grateful for the heart surgeon who helped make it so the death of my son did not kill me.
    I am grateful for the calming techniques I have learned as they help with the palpitations I get each year at this time.
    I am grateful for the grace of our Lord, who thinks me stronger then I do.
    I am grateful for waking this a.m.

  • Thankful for the years we had with our sweet daughter (25)
    Thankful for our Son who loves his Jesus, and truly lives like it
    thankful for our adopted grand daughter Claire from Ethiopia
    Thankful for my best friend and Bride of 34 years, without her by my side i am not sure i would be here
    Thankful and praying for our second grand daughter Emma ( named after our daughter Emily) she is in China , while we wait for the process to go quickly and smoothly
    Thankful for our home church (friend) who have held us up during this time of Grief
    Thankful for other friends ( our parents in our same club) who show support
    Most of all thankful fur a Savoirwho loves me and calls me his own

  • Your lists of thankfuls always challenges me to stop and consider my own. This morning, as I wrote my Bible study blog, I was overcome with gratitude for the strong male leadership that has blessed my life from Day One.

  • great list! 🙂
    I’m grateful for the nice sunny weather today, waking up early with Him Indoors, the first day meeting with my new client/student who is a head of a school (She’s lovely and we get on well 🙂 ), talking to HRH the son yesterday and they are doing well (with his beautiful new bride), they’re looking for a new flat in Southhampton where the bride has to start with her PhD and the son will look for a job, after finishing his Masters, good luck to both of them! a niece from the Philippines just sent me a message saying that she’s here in Munich for a week for a conference and can we meet up? tomorrow we’re going to see if we can lease/buy a new car, and grateful for our health….cheers! 🙂
    Have a lovely day! <3

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