Be Thankful

[Love Life Simply]

Not sure if I should share this, but here it goes.

I ran into an hold friend of mine. A close friend from Kinder garten. It had been over 10 years without any contact. As it turns out, he had successfully completed his school, undergraduate studies and a good job, got married and had kids. Sadly, both his kids have Autism. I say sadly because no one would want to have it. It is unfortunate that it happens.

It is sad as my friend looks way over his age. He told me, Life is not easy. He was thankful that he came to Canada as there is help here for his children. However, no parent would ever want to go through this. He is strong but you could see it in his eyes. His wife is depressed and is going through a rough patch, he himself has gone through some serious medical problems that have come too early for his age. And and top of it, he is worried about the future of his kids. Also, who will take care of his wife in the event something happens to him? Who will take care of his kids? His kids have the bad side of Autism, he tells me. He told me how they will probably need care for the rest of their lives. Diaper changing, feeding, bathing etc.

I don't want to bring this post too long and boring, but the point of it is that it touched me. I would never want anyone to go through any like this or similar.

Point is, be thankful for what you have. Be thankful for everything you have. If you have two legs, two arms, a working brain, be thankful.

We all get upset or think life is the worst when a small mishap comes our way. We should be thankful to our God for everything we have.

I got chills after hearing his life story. He was very successful through school, university, work and married a gorgeous wife. He showed me pictures. Then everything started going down hill. Our first time meeting in over 10 years was a good 2 hour meeting.

 

[Pompal 09.]

Always thank God for your good health. Whoever says says money can buy happiness?

Here is prove it cannot.

 

[nicole-kellie]

That is what I always say.

 

[veraks]

I have a friend with one child with autism and they have a tough go of it I couldn't imagine how tough 2 would be.

 

[Breck]

Not to make this the 'downer thread' but what a great post.

A little over one year ago I lost a friend of mine from my kindergarden days. He and his wife lived in GTA. He had no serious health issues and his death was a complete shock. He was one of the 'good ones' that was taken way too soon.

The anger I still have when I think of all the drug dealers, abusers, thugs, criminals, etc. walking around healthy while my friend was taken too soon...well I don't think the anger will ever go away.

Thanks for a cathartic thread. I wish the best of luck to your friend, his wife and his kids.

I am SO thankful for every day that I have!!!

 

[bluePumpkin]

You're so right HF.

We tend to take for granted what we have. Health is definitely paramount in life.

Sorry to hear about your friend, i cringe to think of his pain, worry, and unrelenting stress.

 

[nOnAME_MAN]

We all should, Sentry.

 

[gReeN dAy RuLeS]

Hope you hold onto that gratitude, hope we all do

 

[ted j]

Even the good ones have bad luck sometimes. There will be other good things coming to him as long as his karma is good.

 

[jennifer31]

Thank you all for your good wishes. You could see how strong yet torn he was. It seemed like he needed someone to talk too, and let all his emotions out. I feel sorry for him because the only two children he has, are dependent on him. He has no one to take care of him or his wife, no other family as he left his family and came here to start a new life. He does not regret it. He says, Canada has help for his children whereas back home his children would be looked at as "mentally retarded humans". Yes, we should all be thankful for everything we have. And always ask for more.

 

[M3x!TaL!aN0]

I always say...if you think you have it bad....take a look around...

 

[wishmaker88]

That is a sad story, it is amazing how your life can change from day to day. I guess the moral of the story is to live life to its fullest everyday and enjoy what you have

 

[Alexandria]

Walk through the cancer ward at St Mike's. Enough said.

 

[Willow Born 2.2.10<3 (:]

Made me stop smoking.

 

[Laurent]

So YOU'RE the reason the prices are going up on everything?

Too many more like you and the price of gas will be $10.00 a litre......($1.00 for the gas, $9.00 for the taxes on it)

 

[Emma Jean]

Sorry don't get the humor here?.

 

[worldwide surprise]

It's stories like this that truly put life into perspective. We complain everyday about our bosses, bad drivers, poor customer service, potholes. That pales in comparison to what this guy has to go through day after day. The gov't committed to helping families with autistic kids but nothing has been done to date. I hope and pray your friend can get the help he and his wife need.

 

[????]

For my good health and those of my family. Low on cash but thankful for my good fortune.

 

[tropical bubble]

Because the government collects so much tax revenue from smokers, if everyone quit they'd increase the tax on everything else to compensate......

(sorry it took so long to reply, I didn't know you had asked....)

 

[toad]

While that maybe true, what about all the costs to health care that they incur as they older?

I often wonder what the balance is between revenues collected through taxation and health care costs.

The whole issue is a conundrum because the exact cost of smoking is impossible to measure. I mean you never see on a death certificate under cause of death smoking, do you. But over the span of a smoker's lifetime their habit will most likely contribute to a whole myriad of health issues of one type or another.