A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
Courage is the price that life exacts for granting peace. The soul that knows it not, knows no release from little things. -Amelia Earhart, aviator (24 Jul 1897-1937)
Oh, how hard it is to find peace and to be courageous when fighting a disease! Oh, how in awe it is when we see it done! Amazing Grace, how sweet it is . . .
I posted this quote recently on The Reluctant Donor’s Facebook page along with the three sentences of my thoughts. Many people ‘shared’ and ‘liked’ which just goes to show how good Amelia Earhart’s quote is along with the truth about finding peace and courage when battling disease.
HOW DO YOU HOLD IT TOGETHER WHEN BATTLING A DISEASE?
My mother often answered this question for me. I asked her so many times through her battle with PKD. I recently found a letter from thirty years ago from when I also asked that question. I giggled at some of her answers.
- “With gritted teeth”
- “I swear”
- “I yell at your father”
- “One day at a time, one hour at a time, one minute at a time”
- “With faith that better things are ahead” or “I ask Sister Mike to help me through”
- “The hardest thing is putting my life in God’s Hands! You know what a fighter I am and I have control but I don’t – I found that out when I was so sick!”
- “I had a good, long talk with the nurses.”
- “You give me great strength by telling me I have great strength and courage.”
- “I keep telling myself I’ve GOT to do it and it really does make it easier.”
Thank you, Mom, for showing us the way . . .
Suzanne, thank you for sharing. I wish I had known your mother. She sounds like such a fighter. We need to learn from others how to suffer with grace, which it sound like she did. You are blessed to have had her as a mother!