So many things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving season (and every day of the year too). It is hard to put into words everything that this Thanksgiving was this year. Ela’s first Thanksgiving with her new heart, but also her donor family’s first Thanksgiving without their child…. So many thoughts accompanied by a little guilt. I don’t want to be insensitive or ever take for granted this precious gift my daughter has been given. Miguel, Ela, and I made the most of a hospital Thanksgiving and our boys got to enjoy celebrating with my side of the family.

Most of all, I am thankful for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Romans 5: 1-11

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”

Reminder to myself and hopefully an encouragement to you as well….All the “packed-full goodness” in these verses is something to rejoice in no matter your circumstances— whether you are in the hospital, or saddened by family who for one reason or another weren’t gathered around the Thanksgiving table this year, or suffering with illness, or persecuted for your faith, or whatever the situation might be…as a Christian you have reason to rejoice….always…now and forever more. Thank God for this blessed hope! So on that note I do hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving!

Please be in prayer for Ela’s cath this Tuesday. As long as all goes well with that, we hope she will be discharged mid-week to the Gift of Life Howie’s House in Philly again where we will remain for several more weeks. Another thank you for all the prayers, encouragement, love, and support many of you have sent our way. We truly are so grateful. VIDEO BELOW: