Still Thankful

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Eve and unfortunately, my family is laying to rest my cousin who lost her battle to ovarian cancer which spread to her throat. Many of you are not aware that in the middle of the rewrites for book #2 I was making hospital visits. The visits were not just for one cousin but for two on the same side of the family in the same hospital. One cousin overhearing the cries of another and praying for who they thought was a stranger. God revealed through other family members that it was indeed a relative. One returned home safe and sound after two surgeries and for this I am still thankful.  The other continued to fight. I spent time ministering through song, praying and praising God with my family and just talking with them. But one Wednesday night as I stood in the middle of the Giant, the tears began to fall because I could feel what my pastor said. There was an urgency. I began to feel the life of my cousin slipping. God granted myself and another family member favor that we were allowed in past visiting hours to encouraging my cousin. She was alert and she knew we were there. She died the next morning. Does it hurt? Yes. But the peace I have is that she really accepted Christ so I know I will see her again. For that, I am still thankful. We have yet another cousin battling breast cancer on the same side. I had an option to attend an event but I felt in my heart that I needed to just spend time with her so she knows that family cares and is pulling for her recovery. She is very positive and believes God can heal. And for this I am still thankful.

If you can encourage the whole world but can't encourage your own family, there is indeed an imbalance. I am thankful to my church family for ALL they have done and continue to do to support me and my family through this time. I am thankful to the friends who have been praying and are still praying for my family. I did not post any of this information on facebook, twitter, etc previously because I did not want it to be for attention sake. The Word says in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 that we are to be joyful always; pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. So I am still thankful.