Selfless

Some of you know that my father-in-law was in a bad accident on Saturday.  We are confident that he will recover, but the road ahead is both uncertain and filled with potholes, just as all the crazy country roads are around here.  In all things, give thanks… and here is what we can be thankful for in the midst of trial.

• The minute he found out, one of our football dads called saying “What do you want me to do?  I can leave work early.  I can do the farm chores.  I know cattle.”  etc. etc.  This man has never been on my in-laws’ farm 30 miles from here, but he’s ready to go and take over!  Selfless.
• When the local Methodist church minister found out yesterday, he asked where my FIL is and how long he’d be there.  He said that he planned to go to the city on Tuesday and would stop and visit with him.  (They coached together years ago.  In fact, he had to ask my FIL’s name because he knows him only as “Red” from the coaching days.)  Yesterday when Lance arrived home he reported that Pastor Bill had been at the hospital.  It’s over an hour away, and he must have changed his schedule.  Selfless.
• Lance’s assistant coach drove to the grocery store at 6:30 this morning and brought a sliced ham to my door at 7:30.  “I thought since he’ll be on the road so much this might come in handy.  It’s not much.”  Selfless. (And I immediately made sandwiches for the road today!)
• My in-laws’ best friends have taken over.  They are working the farm, checking on cows and heifers after their jobs at night, waiting on the imminent arrival of baby calves that sometimes must be pulled to be saved.  Selfless.
• My brother-in-law is using all of this year’s vacation time and taking 2 days unpaid so that he can be available to help.  Selfless.
• My bloggy friends, many states away, have offered sincere help in every creative way.  They make me smile.       Selfless.
• My own dear husband hasn’t had a real night’s sleep since Thursday.  He leaves early in the morning for the farm (30 miles) to do chores, goes to the hospital (1 1/2 hours) to relieve his mom and cart supplies back and forth, returns for basketball practice (game tonight), goes to school until late at night planning for the next day, and starts another 16-hour day all over again.  Selfless.

So today, I am thankful for being surrounded by selfless individuals who make the load lighter for all.

Tonight I’m going to get back into the Valentine spirit, because there is some celebrating to be done!  Go here for the full schedule of events and be sure to link up your own ideas!