I have been asked many times how can you still be smiling when you are so ill? We choose to celebrate life. How can you go out to conventions and speak to others? Isn’t this the time you should be cared for, when others should take over the hard stuff and let you have a layabout?
We choose to celebrate life!
If this health issue was a passing short time thing maybe. If I had just been diagnosed with mitochondrial disease, gastroparesis, Addison’s disease and the other issues my mito has caused I might have the wind taken out of me. (Mito causes Cascade Failure)
If this was the first time or even the third hard talk I have had to have with my children’s doctors about deciding on surgery or a needed medication with heavy side effects or discontinuing therapies because the pain and cost outweigh any benefits. Maybe.
Chris and I have been on this carousal endless circling with our family for over 10 years, at a certain point you realize either you take charge of the medical or it will take charge of you.
We choose to take charge of the medical and put it in its place. A high priority that needs to be monitored but no longer driving the bus. Yes, we have changed our lives and adjusted our diets and a thousand other small things but instead of seeing that as infringing upon us and a burden we smile and find the fun it.
Last year Scott Hamilton was diagnosed with new growth in his brain tumor. This is not new to him. He chose to set the tone when his child asked him if it had grown back. It might be startling to some how cheerful and upbeat he was that yes he had a brain tumor. And you just keep on going with life.
Here is the link to his interview. http://people.com/sports/scott-hamilton-facing-third-brain-tumor-diagnosis/
Here is where it gets murky. Like a couple of celebrities that have recently passed away that kept a cheerful, outwardly focused life up until the end they still knew they were dying or had the strong possibility of dying. There is no shame in accepting death as a possibility to your circumstances.
I have found that it has made today so much sweeter. It has encouraged me to pick up my phone and call old high school buddies I haven’t talked to in decades. When Chris and I go speak at conventions we make each an outing and a family adventure. Even if its just movie night and eating (gasp) smores in a big fluffy hotel bed! Something mommy would never allow at home.
You find your meaning in what you let in. If you pray and seek the Lord He will guide. If you cloak yourself in the pain it will blind you. If you allow others opinion to force you how they think you should react you will feel lost.
Celebrate life while you can my friends. Celebrate it in all its wonderful glory!
Be friends to those that are struggling. My friend Kim from www.notconsumed.com is struggling. Her son Luke has a brain tumor and is getting a follow up MRI today after months of treatment. The whole family needs prayer of strength and support during this trying time. Yesterday Kim wrote a very heartfelt accurate post ‘How to prepare your heart for the hard things’ that I would highly recommend you taking a moment to read.
Praise the Lord for every day with your child and show them how to celebrate life and cherish it. Think of how brilliant and uplifting a generation of adults that love life and cherish it will be? Think of how wonderful that generation will be raising your grandchild to love.
Thank you all for your prayers.