Saying Thanks

Today is September 11. Last Sunday our church honored "first responders"--fire, police and emergency medical personnel. I went up to a firefighter friend after church and said, "A week ago today an ambulance crew saved my sister's life. That was 800 miles away from here, and I can't thank them in person. I'm thanking you on their behalf."

Kathy, whom I wrote about on the day of her injury, is recovering slowly. She's been through two neurosurgeries and a couple of minor procedures. She's still in coma, but they're saying that if nothing unforeseen happens, the crisis is over. She may be coming out of the coma any time in the next few weeks. We're incredibly grateful for the ambulance crew, the airlift crew, and all the hospital personnel who have helped her (and the rest of our family) so much.

Yesterday I went through the security check at the airport. I told a TSA person, "Thank you for helping us fly safely." She answered, "We're trying." I said, "You're succeeding!" We've been six years now without a major incident on U.S. soil.

I frequently say thank you to airport security personnel. Often they smile, almost in surprise; they tell me they hear far more complaints than words of appreciation. Sure, airport security is a pain--but it's not their fault we have to be so careful; and without them, who would feel safe boarding an airplane?

So as this day of remembrance comes toward a close, consider how you can thank someone--a security person, a first responder, or perhaps a member of the military--who has helped us stay as safe as we have been since that awful day.

Posted: Tue - September 11, 2007 at 08:40 PM |

Thinking Christian by Tom Gilson getCategoryName("<$CategoryUUID$>");

Saying Thanks

Thinking Christian by Tom Gilson