Sometimes things don't always go the way we want
or expect. It just seems to be the nature of the universe and, of course, it doesn't make sense at the time or,
even, ever. For the last couple of months, I have been assisting a non-profit organization,
Faith's Hope, with their marketing efforts. Their mission is simple:
when facing catastrophic illnesses, no one should be alone. I am sure that most would agree.
While the road has not been easy for Faith's Hope, over the course of the last several years, they have raised enough money to help almost 500 different families during their times of need. Last month a special comedy night was held with proceeds to go to one particular family. A broken home, the mom has been facing devastating cancer. The youngest child still at home, a high school football player. The event raised some funds to help this family. We can all give a little, eh?
Mom had been in remission but yesterday, some overwhelming news came in that her cancer had returned and was beginning to spread once more. Catastrophe?
yes, of course. Another young friend of mine, a mom in her mid-thirties, recently passed away after battling cancer for a couple years, leaving three small children. The ravages of disease are all around us. It does not matter how well off you are or how perfectly you live your life. Sometimes, it creeps in your back door and takes hold of the most precious.

Lessons we can learn? Know your force. Know that life can be shattered, taken away, upset, shaken to the core. It is the nature of life. It is the ravage of unexpected death. Though we work and we stay informed and we take precautions, it still lies in wait, preying on not only the weak and unsuspecting, but also those that take care and watch out. The lesson is a simple one, but often hard learned. Don't miss a chance. Don't fail at opportunity. Don't cower at possibility. Revel in life. Take joy where it can be found. Learn as if you were to live forever and live as if tomorrow were your last day.
How often do we take for granted that
what we have is what we will have? Or turn it negative, that what we have is
all we will ever have. Eat, drink and be merry? No, life is
not that simple. And finding balance is
not that easy. Take it all in, move forward with purpose and relish this day. The impact you have on another cannot be measured. You can only measure the impact on yourself.
Make it count.
©by rayannethorn