The Unexpected

We take life for granted very often. We wake up, we have coffee, we grumble at the store clerk, we laugh at Frasier, we vacuum, eat some supper and fall asleep in the chair. All in a days journey. We don't spend a lot of time in the reminiscing stage or in mourning, usually. We dream a little, plan and control what we can. Then suddenly we are forced to stop. Like a hard wall, the lights go off, we can no longer tell where we are and what is going on. Cancer. It is that word that puts paint to the romance of life. We are walking along, enjoying the view when suddenly we can not get our eyes focused. We can not keep our control, we are drifting. Our mind begins to spin, reeling with fear and anxiety about the unknown.

And so it begins. Mom has been diagnosed with lung cancer; Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, SLL, CLL. She has been challenged to wrap her arms around it all, but has recognized that it is not the destination but the process that has her concerned. And of course the issue of time. I always think that is the most interesting anxiety for a patient. Our days are numbered from the beginning, not one of us is guaranteed tomorrow. Yet as I mentioned, we really don't 'pay attention' until we are forced to face it head on.

Her life started out in the south, poor farmers who always had extra plates of food for those who would walk down the dead-end road on Sundays. The big treat was tamales her father would buy from migrant laborers in the field. She played basketball in high school but found work in the five and dime to be great fun. Of course she met a military man there and the rest was history. Life ended up full of travel, adventures and family fun. Laughing, card playing, bowling and great home made food. Of course Atari, airplane rides and antique shopping were standard fare as well.

As she moved into assisted living two years ago, she had some 'challenges' losing her freedom, her privacy,  independence, her car! But over time she has adjusted to the quieter life. Not to say she still doesn't enjoy a good trip to the mall or Walgreen's or absolutely anywhere someone will take her. But she has come to acceptance about so many things. So now we have a new barrier to her happiness in her daily living. But she is resilient, tough, strangely determined to get her arms around this next step.

So it is my privilege to spend the next.......?...........helping her stay 'in the game'. My niece gave me a shirt that mentions putting your big girl panties on and dealing with it. I wear it a lot now. After all I am THAT daughter, and I do get away with that. Usually. I am factual, practical and going to make her laugh when possible. I just need to train the rest of the crew at the home to take the ball and run when I am away.

When she needs it, I remind her we are to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. We are to wrestle our flesh, not let it take our joy. So many things in life to be grateful for. Every day we must remember, count the blessings, consider what great joy it is to serve the King and be sure of our forever home. And by all means, start the celebration here and now. Well, this is my goal, encouraging trust, hope, faith and joy for her days.

You could be a great support by prayer. And there is always a hug and a smile for any encouragement. She loves mail.....you know, paper, stamps. :-) I will update from time to time. And covet your friendship along the journey.

Jude 24-25