With the Thanksgiving holiday being just a couple days away, things that we are thankful for seem to be highlighted during this time a little more than they usually would. Or maybe that's just me, but I know that until this holiday (or rather, this time of the year in general) the things I am thankful for are brought to the forefront of my mind more often. Could that be because we are reunited with the family that we may see a few times, scattered throughout the year until this time? Or because of all the commercials, cards, statuses, etc. reminding us to ponder on what we need to be thankful for? Whatever the reason, I'm going to make more of an effort to reflect on the things that I am thankful for through the entire year, and not just during the holidays. That being said, I'd like to share with you all, dear readers, three things that I witnessed that humbled me greatly, and in fact made me thankful.
Justin Bieber concert:
A few weeks ago, I was asked to take the girl I nanny every week and her friend to a Justin Bieber concert. Who would've thought I would have an experience that made me tear up? Not me. (And no, the tears were not shed because of the excitement of seeing Justin. Luckily, I've never been taken over by "Bieber Fever" ;)) After waiting until just an hour before to head to the concert, plus the traffic and trying to find a parking spot, we were rushing to make it to the show. While frantically trying to find the elevator from the parking garage to the Ford Center, we came across a mom and her daughter who seemed to be in the same boat as we were. So, we started to follow them. And while jogging to catch the open doors of the elevator, I glanced at the little girl and I noticed she had her hand up on top of her head. It wasn't until we were in the elevator that this little girl whose eyes were gleaming with excitement was holding on to her head because of the wig that wasn't securely on. As I looked a little more closely, she in fact had no eyebrows, no hair other than her wig, and seemed very frail.
Kindergarten Class:
This semester I am in a Foundations class and we were required to spend 30 hours observing and working with students. I was assigned to a kindergarten class, and like in my past classes I've spent time in, I get attached to the children very quickly. One Monday I went in, and the teacher told me that one of our students wouldn't be in the class anymore. I had been informed that this student was a foster child, and the teacher had received news that they had not only been adopted, but had been adopted into the family's home that had also adopted their brother by birth.
Child Psych:
There is an older Chinese man in my Child Psych class. He sits behind me, and has much trouble speaking and understanding the English language. I must admit, that I would find myself annoyed by his constant questions and needing help. It is hard to admit this, as I am so completely and utterly embarrassed by this behavior and my thoughts. And it wasn't until he spoke to the class with his group about secondary languages that I was crushed with a wave of guilt after he shared his personal story. He is 46 years old, came to America a few years ago with his wife and children, and he is bound determined to complete his education at our college, and provide for his family. He shared the struggles they've had with the language barrier, and how it is especially hard for his wife.
All of these experiences humbled me in a different way. How thankful and lucky am I to have never had my body contain an ounce of cancer. Causing me to every hair on my head, a small thing in the big pot of hardships cancer brings on one and their family. I have never been in a foster home, I have had the luxury of consistently having the same roof over my head and a place I could always call home. But how thankful am I that this student is being adopted into a permanent home, not to mention that they will get to be with their brother. How humbled I am after hearing my classmate's story by my inexcusable behavior and I am so thankful and inspired by his ambition.
You'll have to forgive me, this post was a long one. But if you get anything out of it, I pray that you will reexamine the life and actually look for things to be thankful for and to be humbled by them year round.
Phew!! That was kinda heavy. (For me at least) On a lighter note, I am so excited to celebrate Thanksgiving this week! Thursday we'll be headed to Cam's family "Thankmas," then Friday we'll be celebrating with my family! I hope you all have a fantastic Thanksgiving, full of food, fun, and family!! :)
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