Being Thankful

Sometimes life offers us events that invite pause to become retrospective, to gain perspective, and truly focus on what is really important. These events should be life changing - gentle nudge or an outright push to make us better. In the past month, I have had several of these moments both positive and negative.

One event that I feel important to share with this great community is the miracle of life - the life of Nathaniel Jones, a sixth-grader in my social studies class. I asked his parents permission to write this article to report on his recovery and to give thanks for his life and for the community who has supported him. The week before Thanksgiving I was outside the Middle School cafeteria to monitor the students returning to their classrooms from lunch. There I saw Nathaniel running, something I would normally tell a student to stop, but in this instance I told myself, “Run Nathaniel, run, and be thankful.”

It was just a few weeks ago that he could not even walk. His recovery from an illness that threatened his life is nothing short of a miracle. Progress is being made every day, and I even find myself forgetting that he was even sick because it seems he has not even missed a beat academically or socially. He is Nathaniel, that academically gifted, kind, hard-working boy who always has a smile.

My thankfulness certainly pales in comparison to hisor his family’s, but I wanted to let him know how thankful I am for who he is and how he has fought back for his life.

I also want to thank the Pea Ridge community for the outpouring of concern, prayers and support. I know you directly had a huge impact on his recovery. To commemorate his struggle and a symbol of the community’s support, the Granny’s Quilts of Love gave a quilt to Nathaniel. I hope Nathaniel and everyone else who may be reading this article understand that this quilt was made with the loving hands of ‘grannies’ who have experienced over 10,000 stories of other children that preceded his in their own struggles of fighting for life. To these ladies, thank you for all you do.

I know Nathaniel will reflect on this time and he will be made even stronger not only physically, but mentally and spiritually as well.

So, Nathaniel, I charge you to remember, and be thankful, for we are all thankful for you.

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Editor’s note: John Gibson is the pastor of Mt. Vernon Presbyterian Church, Pea Ridge. He can be contacted through this newspaper at [email protected].