Brenda Vath,
KGM Team Member

Revelation 7:12, “Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever.  Amen.”  

At 1:49am on March 14, 2014, I received a call that forever changed my life.  Joe, my husband of 39 years had had a stroke.

My first thought was that there was a mistake.  He seemed perfectly fine when he left for work that night.  So many things ran through my mind.   I could hardly think straight.  The one thing I kept saying was, “Oh dear God help him, be with him!”  That was all I could get pray as I drove to pick up our daughter, Lindsay.

As Joe lay in his bed at Duke, we learned his life would be different.  Joe is now permanently disabled.  He no longer has the use of his right arm or hand.   And his right leg is very weak.  In fact, he walks with a cane.

As traumatic as this event has been in our lives – we have seen the power of God in our everyday circumstances as we’ve sought a new normal.

• We’ve seen God bless us beyond measure;
• We’ve seen God take care of us in ways that many times seemed impossible;  
• We’ve seen God be faithful in meeting every need we have.  

My faith has been refreshed!  What an amazing God we serve!

Though life is not what we would have planned, Joe and I HAVE CHOSEN to be thankful.   We have SO MUCH to be thankful for.  Especially the health and relationships we have with our greatest blessings: our son, daughter and son and law – as well as our three beautiful granddaughters.  The Lord has blessed us!  We are determined that through this – others will see the difference Jesus makes in a person’s life.  All of Joe’s doctors and nurses are amazed at his attitude.  They wonder why we both can be so accepting of this tragedy.  Jesus is the answer!

We have lost much, but we have much to be thankful for.  We’ve just celebrated Thanksgiving, but my thanksgiving abounds past the weekend!  Around the table at Christmas, as well as the parties we’ll attend and all year long, I look forward to sharing how awesome our God is in the midst of a new normal.  And as our sweet granddaughters grow up, I’ll look forward to sharing how Jesus can make all the difference in one’s life!  And to be thankful – even the things that do not seem to be something to be thankful for.

My heart is full.  It is singing “Amen, Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever.  Amen.”

Don’t let your thanksgiving end with the weekend.  Continue to count YOUR blessings and share them with others!

Brenda is one KGM’s faithful volunteers.  If you’ve ever attended a luncheon, you’ve met her at the Registration Table!  

To learn more about Brenda, click here