Today I am ever so grateful for the precious gift of time. Today I’m reminded that time is a bright light in this cancer cloud I live in. I just read a FB post by Dan’s cousin whose husband suddenly passed away four months ago. Her post, written to her husband, included Diamond Rio’s One More Day. I thank her for sharing both her grief and her healing. She often includes a song she’s connected to in this aspect of life’s journey that she was thrust into. I listen to the lyrics and feel the joy of their love. I know she will feel that love every day of her life here on earth and beyond. I know she feels too the love, prayers, and support of those who read her post and are thinking of her, not just today, but every day.
And so I think how lucky I am to be living, living in a time and place that genomic testing is done on lung cancer tumors. That researchers have developed more than one drug to attack this ROS1 cancer I have, even though only 1to 2% of lung cancer patients have this cell mutation. Time for the second drug (lorlatinib) to be available when the first (crizotinib) could not protect my brain. Every minute of time is one minute closer to the next targeted therapy drug being available if I should need it. The gift of time to make more precious memories. Time to understand why I shouldn’t shy away from that camera. Given time to say, “You know, I’ll always be with you”.
Does EVERY cloud have a silver lining? Well, I say yes, if you’re open to it, and maybe even determined to search for it. But sometimes it seems you have to work so hard getting through the darkness of the cloud that you do get lost in your search. Everyone does, I think, at times. Even those strong of faith. Those with great support systems around them. That’s where my thought about Pollyanna comes in. Her brain, heart, soul must have all been “wired” for optimism. We need to be optimists in life so to be prepared. I think we can train our minds to be optimists. You shouldn’t ever miss a silver lining. They’re the joy I find every day in the everyday. In the “little things” are the most beautiful of silver linings: love, peace, a new day, strength, life. Not little at all.
In case you’re wondering-
In thinking about this concept of silver linings I learned that ‘silver lining’ was coined by John Milton in Comus: A Mask Presented at Ludlow Castle, 1634
“I see ye visibly, and now believe
That he, the Supreme Good, to whom all things ill
Are but as slavish officers of vengeance,
Would send a glistering guardian, if need were
To keep my life and honour unassailed.
Was I deceived, or did a sable cloud
Turn forth her silver lining on the night?
I did not err; there does a sable cloud
Turn forth her silver lining on the night,
And casts a gleam over this tufted grove. ” phrases.org
And Pollyanna, the ever optimistic child in Eleanor Porter’s 1913 novel. Also in the 1960 Disney movie. I think it’s a compliment to be called a Pollyanna .
The tiniest thread of silver lining grows into something quite magnificent before you know. This happens to me. I’m learning more each day, especially since I’ve been given this gift of time. Finding joy in the everyday every day.
polepole ~ breathe 