Gratitude: Letting others know you see how they’ve helped you.
Gratitude is our virtue for the month of November. It's certainly appropriate since we celebrate Thanksgiving during the month of November. But how often do we really show gratitude? I can only speak for myself, but I am quite aware that too often my Gratitude Tank is on Empty. I tend to complain instead of offering gratitude. What does that say about me?
There are many people to whom I owe a huge THANK YOU. But one keeps coming to my mind... and I haven't told him how truly thankful I am for him. Oh, I thought about sending him a card or an email, but I just haven't gotten around to it. And that's NOT acceptable!
On Monday, October 24th, the Airline Viking Freshman football team played the Southwood Cowboys at Southwood. On what turned out to be the last play of the game, my oldest son, Peyton, was involved in a helmet to helmet collision. I did not see the hit, but I saw him fall....and keep pushing himself back...out of the play... with just his feet. I knew he was hurt.
I'm not a mom who usually over-reacts to an injury. But I knew Peyton was hurt. I prayed. I watched. I prayed. I watched. My friend, Lisa, who just happens to be a Physical Therapist was beside me and told be everything that would happen as the situation continued to unfold. I knew he was hurt. I knew it had to be his head or his neck. I stayed in my seat watching until.........the referees called the game. The game was over, and the emergency crew had been called. It was now time for me to make my way to the field to check on my son and wait for the rescue unit. As I got to him on the field, I told him he was ok and to be tough. I touched his leg and looked into his eyes. He was calm. Someone was talking to him and holding his head and neck since the play had ended. The trainer at Airline, Paul, was holding Peyton's head and neck. Paul was very calm and continued to talk to Peyton and to me. He sat on his feet for probably fifteen to twenty minutes just stabilizing PT's head and neck until the paramedics arrived to evaluate the situation. He gave the paramedics all the information and assisted them as they strapped PT to a board in full pads and helmet. I knew this was very serious. As Lisa talked me through this process, I remember her commenting about Paul and how she bet "his feet and legs had fallen asleep" as he helped hold PT's head and neck securely for at least 15 to 20 minutes. Lisa continued to "coach" me as to what they would do next, and where we should go. Because WK South was the closest hospital, we went there.
We entered the emergency room where PT's jersery was cut from him. Strangely, that was a little difficult to watch. After some time his pads and eventually his helmet were removed as xrays were taken. Prayers and texts of prayers were constantly being sent to our phones as we awaited the results of the xrays. Perhaps I was experiencing that "troubled grace" that Doc speaks of so often because I kept thinking that I should be falling apart at any moment. But I didn't. When the doctor finally told us that he had determined that PT had experienced a "stinger" and we would soon be released, I remember having a huge feeling of gratitude. I was thankful that God had kept PT safe on that football field. I was thankful we were spending the night at home. I was thankful that PT's friends and coaches came to see him before he left the hospital. I was thankful that the Lord had allowed Lisa to be beside me and help prepare me for exactly what was to come in that scary situation. I was thankful that PT was worried about getting his EAGLE test completed online before 11 PM! LOL!!! I was simply thankful. And I remembered Paul. Paul, the trainer. Paul, the guy who's feet were probably still tingling from sitting on them so long- for my son. I was so thankful that Paul had seen the seriousness of the hit and reacted with caution and quickness. I was thankful that Paul had evaluated PT and continued to talk to him in a calm and careful manner. I was so thankful for our precious trainer, Paul.
It's been two weeks tonight since the injury, and I'm just now getting around to thanking Paul. (That kinda stinks that it takes me so long!!!) But THANK YOU PAUL!!!! You rock!!!! I can never thank you enough for holding my child's head and neck at such a scary time and keeping calm and composed. You are awesome, and I am very thankful! So Paul, I'm showing gratitude to you. I'm letting others see how you've helped me and my family. And I appreciate it very much! Thanks, Paul! I am very grateful for the job you do for the student athletes (and their parents) at Airline High School! You are a REAL CHAMP!!!
Gratitude is our virtue for the month of November. It's certainly appropriate since we celebrate Thanksgiving during the month of November. But how often do we really show gratitude? I can only speak for myself, but I am quite aware that too often my Gratitude Tank is on Empty. I tend to complain instead of offering gratitude. What does that say about me?
There are many people to whom I owe a huge THANK YOU. But one keeps coming to my mind... and I haven't told him how truly thankful I am for him. Oh, I thought about sending him a card or an email, but I just haven't gotten around to it. And that's NOT acceptable!
On Monday, October 24th, the Airline Viking Freshman football team played the Southwood Cowboys at Southwood. On what turned out to be the last play of the game, my oldest son, Peyton, was involved in a helmet to helmet collision. I did not see the hit, but I saw him fall....and keep pushing himself back...out of the play... with just his feet. I knew he was hurt.
I'm not a mom who usually over-reacts to an injury. But I knew Peyton was hurt. I prayed. I watched. I prayed. I watched. My friend, Lisa, who just happens to be a Physical Therapist was beside me and told be everything that would happen as the situation continued to unfold. I knew he was hurt. I knew it had to be his head or his neck. I stayed in my seat watching until.........the referees called the game. The game was over, and the emergency crew had been called. It was now time for me to make my way to the field to check on my son and wait for the rescue unit. As I got to him on the field, I told him he was ok and to be tough. I touched his leg and looked into his eyes. He was calm. Someone was talking to him and holding his head and neck since the play had ended. The trainer at Airline, Paul, was holding Peyton's head and neck. Paul was very calm and continued to talk to Peyton and to me. He sat on his feet for probably fifteen to twenty minutes just stabilizing PT's head and neck until the paramedics arrived to evaluate the situation. He gave the paramedics all the information and assisted them as they strapped PT to a board in full pads and helmet. I knew this was very serious. As Lisa talked me through this process, I remember her commenting about Paul and how she bet "his feet and legs had fallen asleep" as he helped hold PT's head and neck securely for at least 15 to 20 minutes. Lisa continued to "coach" me as to what they would do next, and where we should go. Because WK South was the closest hospital, we went there.
We entered the emergency room where PT's jersery was cut from him. Strangely, that was a little difficult to watch. After some time his pads and eventually his helmet were removed as xrays were taken. Prayers and texts of prayers were constantly being sent to our phones as we awaited the results of the xrays. Perhaps I was experiencing that "troubled grace" that Doc speaks of so often because I kept thinking that I should be falling apart at any moment. But I didn't. When the doctor finally told us that he had determined that PT had experienced a "stinger" and we would soon be released, I remember having a huge feeling of gratitude. I was thankful that God had kept PT safe on that football field. I was thankful we were spending the night at home. I was thankful that PT's friends and coaches came to see him before he left the hospital. I was thankful that the Lord had allowed Lisa to be beside me and help prepare me for exactly what was to come in that scary situation. I was thankful that PT was worried about getting his EAGLE test completed online before 11 PM! LOL!!! I was simply thankful. And I remembered Paul. Paul, the trainer. Paul, the guy who's feet were probably still tingling from sitting on them so long- for my son. I was so thankful that Paul had seen the seriousness of the hit and reacted with caution and quickness. I was thankful that Paul had evaluated PT and continued to talk to him in a calm and careful manner. I was so thankful for our precious trainer, Paul.
It's been two weeks tonight since the injury, and I'm just now getting around to thanking Paul. (That kinda stinks that it takes me so long!!!) But THANK YOU PAUL!!!! You rock!!!! I can never thank you enough for holding my child's head and neck at such a scary time and keeping calm and composed. You are awesome, and I am very thankful! So Paul, I'm showing gratitude to you. I'm letting others see how you've helped me and my family. And I appreciate it very much! Thanks, Paul! I am very grateful for the job you do for the student athletes (and their parents) at Airline High School! You are a REAL CHAMP!!!
