Ever receive one of those calls in the middle of the night, which you hope is just a wrong number so you don't answer the phone. Then a few second's later the phone rings again. You jump up out of a deep sleep and run for the phone. In a tired crackling voice you say "hello" still hoping it's a wrong number so you can return to your precious warm bed.

Instead your fears become reality and it's the news you don't want to hear. This happened to me this morning at 1:00 am. My wife and son had flown to Florida the morning before to visit family for a week. The call was from my wife, Joanna, who was calling to inform me that she and her sister were on their way to the ER with my son, who was having a bad asthma attack. He ended up getting admitted to the hospital for observation and is receiving steroids to help get his oxygen levels back up.

My wife is such a rock! Either things like this don't seem to phase her that much or she's just really good about hiding it. I on the other hand will cry just thinking about my little buddy laying there in that hospital bed. Maybe last night's experience was a gift from God, so that I'd slow down for one minute and realize what a treasure I have in my wife. (I love you Joanna!)

I know this could have been much worse than what it turned out to be and it could have been one of those phone calls where you receive the really bad news about a loved one. One that many have experienced and those of us who haven't will eventually have to hear. I'm thankful today that it wasn't one of those calls!

I'm not sure why I'm choosing to share this personal story as my first blog. Maybe it's just because I love my family so much, but I'd like to think that it's because I love God so much and I'm so thankful His presence was near to all of us last night. I give Him praise today that He continues to provide his peace, grace and love in difficult times as well as the good and happy times and may His presence also be near to you today.