Five years.

Anniversaries are not just for the good days, like birthdays and weddings -- they are for the hard days, too.

Today is an important anniversary in my life, but it's not an anniversary for a good day. Today is the day my life was changed with some earth-shattering news that no one could possibly prepare themselves for. It's amazing how short five years can seem and in other ways how long it seems. I remember everything about March 1, 2008. I remember what I was wearing, the sequence of the day, and the overwhelming emotions that flooded my soul.

People carry the anniversaries of death, abuse, and life-changing days. Surprisingly, people often need others to remember these anniversaries more than the anniversaries of the good days. They need to be reminded that others remember with them and they are not alone. These can be some of the hardest and darkest days, especially during the first few anniversaries.

While at Divinity School, I have learned even more the significance of remembering with those you love. Remember the anniversaries of the hard days and remind that person how much you love them. Remember their pain and the importance of that particular day with them. Be present.

Many people remember March 1 with me -- people who were present on that day, people who have heard my story, and people who have walked with me at some point on the journey since that day. For their presence in my life, I'm thankful.

I'm thankful for a renewed relationship with my father, a reconciled relationship with my mother, and restored relationships with many of my siblings. This is how I remember well the anniversary of March 1, 2008. This has been the good. Today, as I remember, I am thankful to serve the God of redemption, reconciliation, and restoration.

Today I remember well, and I'm thankful for the many who remember with me.