Friday, September 6, 2013

Every little step

I often tell my students, when they complain about the length of a reading assignment, that they should tackle it in the same way that they would eat an elephant-----one bite at a time. I try to apply the same principle when it comes to the overwhelming challenges of life. At times issues, challenges, problems, and opportunities seem so huge, so complex, so daunting as to almost stop us in our tracks. Being someone who wants results yesterday, I have to remind myself of the necessity for patience, and with patience comes hope.
Daughter Shanon has completed her regime of chemotherapy. It began with 4 treatments scheduled at 3 week intervals. One step, one bite at a time, painful, trying, frustrating, that part of the journey to wholeness is completed. Now the next phase. This will be 6 weeks of radiation, 5 days a week. She and we will tick the days and weeks off one at a time. Each day will end with a sigh of relief, and each new day will begin with resolve and determination to endure and grow. The goal, the desire, the hope reminds us all never to take the gift of life casually. Every day is a gift shared, enjoyed, held close, and filled with gratitude.
You know the old addage: the past is over, the future is always in front of us, that leaves the present. It is all we have----what a blessing!

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