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Have you ever found yourself in a circle conversation, only to realize how special these people around you really are? If you asked them how important they are, they may have a good opinion of themselves, but not for one minute would they ever presume they were outstanding. The thought passes through your mind, “How did I never realize what was always there?”
As we go through life exaggerating our daily dramas, these strong, stoic persons have really lived them. Although, the profound difference between the two is that you won’t hear them complaining. In fact, it takes prodding to even know there are far more chapters in their personal stories than one could ever imagine.
They’ve lost husbands with small children to raise. They’ve lost fathers with mothers to save. They’ve endured front row seats to a child or sibling suffering and passing. They were forced to say goodbye to the babies they never laid eyes on. They watched virile men lose the battle to the wheelchair. The ache was heavy as they saw their tenacious wives rendered motionless by the evils of stroke. They were even forced to ignore the healthy ones, because it was just too much of a luxury. Sometimes guilt was the worst enemy of all.
Let’s not forget these same souls were far too often suffering silently themselves with ailments that hindered their desire to care for all the others, so many others. But again, no complaining. No whining for attention or sympathy. Only acceptance. They see such a larger picture than the rest of us. It is what it is, and they would expect no more.
They are not happy about the pain and sadness, but they are content with what they were given. They hold tight to their loved ones and appreciate them daily. They don’t ask for more than they need, and sometimes they should. Yet they are always willing to pay forward love and strength to those like me, who truly have no real understanding of pain, only inconvenience of unwanted circumstances.
These beautiful, strong, inspiring souls show me what I want to be when I grow up. I pray each day for their protection, and I pray thanks each day that I am blessed to have them in my world. It seems like these wounds have only served to make them stronger, but the side effect of them certainly makes others stronger. Their strength serves to give hope. That hope makes the rest of us not give up. It makes clear the bigger picture. It vividly shows the truth that surviving is always possible, no matter what the odds, no matter what the injustice.
cmtreadway 