Were it not for hope the heart
would break.
Scottish Proverb
*************************************
Four friends
would do anything to care for me if ever needed. With many others, that level
of faith isn’t as strong. This is about one of my “four”.
With
one ounce of my grumpiness, I immediately reflect on C. for whom I’d drop
everything, especially when she doesn’t ask because I know what she’s not
saying. Only a few do.
Her
youngest son is getting married in June. Thank God. It’s become a source of
stress because time is of the essence. M, her husband, our dear friend, is very
sick; diagnosed on the eve of our two-week trip to Italy 2 1/2 years ago. Signs showed
it hadn’t just arrived. Being brave yet confused, they told no one so as not to
“ruin” our adventure.
Arranging courageous faces everyday for work and times we’re together, which is often,
we’re all aware. We’ve googled it. Statistics are rough. Stem cell transplants
and chemo haven’t caused remission. He feels crappier than crap constantly, which breaks
our hearts. C feels powerless even as a highly experienced nurse. Her "three" feel it too.
Throwing
some more crap on the “nothing’s about her” pile, her mother was recently
diagnosed with lung cancer. Her eldest son has recurring brain tumors since 19, both currently receiving chemotherapy.
We
can’t care for M but we do mind her. As her “people”, we attend to C’s
wellbeing and happiness.
Girls
CAN shop so off we went to the city for her MOG dress. C‘s usual cheeriness was
absent and her heart wasn’t on Michigan Avenue but she needed this task done
and dusted. Tossing her virtually naked body into a fitting room, we handed her
every single dress in Neiman Marcus insisting, “Put this on!” Much to her
protestations, luck struck with the very last and she looked stunning. Found... the
perfect gown for a Malibu ranch wedding. (M even commended our stellar job!)
We "three" will forever be present to ease the mind of our incredibly giving, strong
and caring friend. Seemingly insignificant, this weighed on her. We have learned to lean on each other.
Some things are miniscule in the grand scheme. The biggie is coming far too soon we
fear, and she’s aware. Our hope is she'll have faith in us to care for her, ease
her mind and provide her peace when that time arrives.
******************************
Corinthians
4:16-18
Therefore we
do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are
being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving
for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on
what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is
unseen is eternal.
This
week, we want the (x) to be hope.
This
is a piece about hope, illustrated through (y).
In 400
words or less, tell a true story about hope, illustrated through your
experiences.
