This is As Bad As it Gets

I very vividly remember when my journey towards becoming a hero to my children began. After nine years of marriage, my wife decided to leave me and take our children with her. It was a feeling I will never forget. The hurt and pain I felt, I don't believe I can ever adequately put into words. It's a pain I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. At the same time, it's a pain that only can be fully comprehended by someone who has walked through it.

When I lost my kids, I lost everything. My wife was my world. She was my everything. She was what held my life together. Just having her by my side made me feel like I could do anything. So when she left, my world fell apart. I had hoped to turn to my kids to find that drive, that sense of worth and value, but my wife had taken them and was doing everything that she could think to do to keep me out of their lives.

I remember thinking to myself, "This is as bad as it gets. Life couldn't get any worse than this."

Not long after I lost everything, I received a phone call from my mother. She was calling to tell me that a good friend of the family, who's also a pastor, had lost his son. His son was driving his motorcycle back home from work one evening, when he was suddenly hit by another vehicle. Sadly, the young man lost his life and two parents lost a child. I remember thinking to myself in that moment, "Wow! My situation could be a lot worse. At least I'm not dealing with the absolute loss of a child. I still have my children with me and it's only a matter of time before I'm able to see them and be with them again."

No matter how horrific your experience may be right now, keep in mind that it's not as bad as it can get. Be grateful for what you do have. Even if it's just a little grateful; take nothing for granted. If you've been reduced to only seeing your children for two hours a week, like I was for several months, then be thankful and remember that there are parents out there who do not get their children at all anymore.

#grateful