Even when you are carrying deep pain in your heart, there are still things you can find to be very grateful for and blessings to count. I am reminded of Pollyanna and her "glad game", whereby she continually looked on the bright side of life and even found things that she could be glad about in the midst of the disappointments of life.

I have often said in the past few years too that, even when we feel life has dealt us unjustified sorrow, of which others thankfully are spared, most of us can still think of others that are worse off than ourselves. This enables us to be thankful for the mercies we have been given and the good things that still are ours to comfort and cheer us.

A week before Christmas 2007 we lost our precious little girl who meant the world to us. That night I wondered how we would ever be able to feel like facing life again, let alone feel anything resembling gladness.

Yet, even in those first terrible days, there were rays of sunlight that filtered through the gloom and overwhelming grief. These rays of sunlight were shed by dear friends who were there to comfort and support us.

So one thing I would like to say I'm thankful for is true friendship. Old friends who are there for you in all the seasons of life are amongst life's greatest treasures. So many friends made such a tremendous difference in the weeks immediately after we lost our little angel. They helped to keep us from sinking into the quicksand of hopeless sorrow and anguish.

Of course we still had to face our personal experience of grief in our own unique ways in our own time - and indeed I believe that journey will continue throughout our lives. But the presence and influence of true friends in those first terrible days and weeks was invaluable in getting us through the initial crisis period.

In particular it helped us survive Christmas, when our little boy still needed to have some of the normal traditions. It was of special significance too because we could not even hold our little girl's funeral till after Christmas. I just cannot begin to express how thankful I am that we had so many friends to see us through that time - and that we are still being upheld by their continuing prayers and support, even from afar. Just knowing that people care means so much.

I am also deeply grateful for the richness of the loving relationship my husband and I share, which has been such an immeasurable source of comfort, strength and courage for us both through

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