Perspective

Yesterday, I was watching some news show. Well, sort of. It was on and I was half-heartedly paying attention. Toad was on my lap, quietly resting. It was such a sweet moment. There aren't too many moments when he is just "still" anymore. He likes to be moving and going most of the time. Unless he is really tired. Then, he'll let daddy hold him, as his legs dangle limply, stretching down the entirety of daddy's torso, feet crossed at the ankles. Oh how I love that!
So, I was relishing the sweet stillness of the precious babe in my embrace. But, something caught my attention. The news show was reporting a story of a 9 year old girl in Cambodia. She was born with a hole in her heart, the size of a quarter. She lives in a village with no electricity and no running water. Her mother makes $1 a day. Her heart condition could be fatal. But, her mother can't afford the kind of medical expertise it would require to mend the heartache. Long story short: Money was raised and the little girl was flown to the US, where a team of doctors performed the life-saving surgery. She has been seeing a whole new world here in the US, as she waits for the recovery period to end, so she can return home. The little girl is happy and now, healthy.
I sat there, with my son in my arms, almost in tears. I thought about his short little life and how grateful I am that he has not had to endure such a serious medical condition. I conversed with God and thanked him for giving us the ability to seek necessary medical care and for the privelege we have of possessing health insurance. Not only was I humbled, but utterly overwhelmed, as well. Humbled and grateful that the most severe medical problems Toad has experienced, thus far, have been an ear infection and a stomach bug. Overwhelmed with appreciation for the blessing of being able to call the doctor, on a phone, and receive a return call shortly thereafter. Blessed to know that, if need be, we could take Toad to the hospital and our insurance would cover a significant portion of the cost. I'm thrilled that this little girl received healing for her heart. Yet, I'm saddened that her mother never felt secure in the fact that she could get her daughter the help she so desperately needed. I'm sad that her mother was never certain that her daughter would live until her next birthday, or her next, or next.
This story just put all of my blessings in perspective. For that, I am genuinely grateful.