I started a Blog today about making changes and finding projects to do that keep us busy and focused. I decided to talk about something else instead when a good friend of mine gave me some bad health news today. Why talk about it? Because that news certainly put things into perspective for me. There was one time in my life I will never forget, when the importance of health was brought to my attention. I was sitting at the dining room table of my mother-in-law's home a few years back, enjoying a family Sunday Dinner. With complete innocence, we all began commenting about how tired we all felt lately...how work and school and the kids were dragging us down. I too, was guilty of this. My brother-in-law, 34 years of age, dying of cancer, turned to us and simply said "do you want to know what makes ME tired? Facing day to day at 34 in a body that is as tired as one at 84". The manner at which he said this was like a rock hitting me, time stood still and I suddenly was glad all I had to complain about were the kids and work. Today was the same. I am sitting here, stressing about car tires, money, work and life in general during this deployment, when others around me have REAL concerns.
My husband is away for a very long time....but he'll return. My kids are bored because they have run out of things to do and it's of course summer......but they are safe. My work can be challenging like any other's....but I'm employed. And my days are lonely, I'm sad and don't want to be in this deployment situation......but I am here, I am well.
I think it takes times like this to make us step back from the day to day tasks, day to day woes, and really look at the big picture. Time heals wounds, binds those separated and strengthens those that once were weakened. But even time cannot alter health.
"God, grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
and wisdom to know the difference."
~the Serenity Prayer
~M
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