This story almost ended before it started. We had tried everything. The doctor said we were both completely healthy. In some cases, couples just can't have children. It is one thing to have a definable roadblock. It is quite another to be met with the unknown. The question becomes, why us or even what did we do wrong?
It would have ended right there, if it was only me. My wife, Mary Margaret, had different plans. She convinced me that we should become foster parents and eventually adopt. Soon thereafter, we received a phone call from the Sacramento Receiving Home. I walked into a room full of children and one little boy stood out. He walked right over and gave me a big hug. My first thought was, I hope this is Matthew. It was! He was our first gift. He has a heart of gold. He is full of empathy and he currently works to get health care for our Sacramento homeless population. We are so grateful that he came into our life. Look at that smile!
About a year later, MM and I went back to that same receiving home and this time we were introduced to Joseph. We walked into a different room with numerous children playing peacefully, all except one. This little boy had climbed rather high atop a cabinet and was grinning from ear to ear. You guessed it, Joseph. He has turned out just as you would think, a fun loving, risk taker that works hard as a waiter and cook and also has a heart of gold. We are so grateful he came into our life. He was our second gift. Look at that smile!
Both of my sons have become wonderful fathers as well. Sterling (on the rocking chair) looks like he will be a fun loving, risk taker just like Joseph. Russell looks like he will have Matthew's good nature. We are very grateful for our grandchildren. Two more gifts! We are also grateful for Ashley, Matthew's wife. Another wonderful gift to our family.
My path always seems to be winding and full of obstacles. Sometimes, it is hard to know "the why" or see the path ahead clearly, but every once in a while, you find yourself at a open vantage point. One that affords you the proper perspective to see the past clearly. Everything makes sense. I asked the wrong question so many years ago, why can't we have kids? Of course, we could have kids, wonderful kids. The right question was, how do we create our family? Time gave us the properer perspective to understand "the why." We are grateful for our family!
Thank you to Debbie Maxwell of Charlotte and Margaret Rome of Baltimore for encouraging us to look for the positive with this month's ActiveRain Gratitude Challenge. This challenge has reminded me that sometimes perspective comes in time and that I need to remain patient and persistent for everything to work out just fine. It is not on my time, but His time. It has also reminded me that I have incredible friends and family around me that will help guide me. Twenty nine years ago, a 5'2", blond, vivacious, Southern Belle looked at me wearing my goofy white pants and Hawaiian shirt and said I can do something with that. She did! I am extraordinarily grateful for that. It begs the question, where did she ever get the proper perspective?
HAPPY THANKSGIVING from the Henson's! ! !
Challenge #1-A Great Round of Golf!
Challenge #2-Running a Half Marathon is for Crazy People
Challenge #-3-Grateful for My Business and My Clients
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