Brave

For the last two years, a small boy has been fighting cancer. Many say the young child has courage and exhibits bravery. By his side, through the countless hospitalizations, therapies, blood draws, nuclear scans, doctor's appointments, etc., a stoic mother bravely holds her son. Her heart swells when given good news. "Your child is NED (no evidence of disease)!" She dances. She sings. She celebrates. When the nuclear scans show the return of the cancer, her heart breaks. She cries. She prays. She hugs her son.

As I watch this mother ride the highs and lows of having a loved one sick, I realize she is the one who is brave. She is the one who has courage. When her world is falling apart, she still has to push through to get her son to his medical appointments. She has to comfort her child when he is in pain. She has to endure not only her own emotions, but she must continue being a mother.

I have watched many of my friends fight their battles with various medical conditions. I know from my own experience, it is a struggle to go through so many tests and procedures. However, the patient is often lucky. When undergoing surgery, anesthesia allows the patient to slip off to sleep while the minutes or hours tick by. The family member(s) standing by in the waiting room must live through the experience in real time. If there is a complication or the procedure takes longer than expected, it is their hearts and minds which must struggle to find composure. They are the ones who must find strength to idly sit by.

When the patient recovers from an illness or surgery, the family members are the ones who often have to find the time and energy to encourage, assist and support the patient. Although recovery is not a walk in the park, I often feel it is much easier than trying to live one's own life and also have to take care of another person.

So, as my sweet little friend Lincoln has left this world to enter eternity, I think about his mother. I think about his father. They must continue forth in this world without their firstborn son. They must continue being husband and wife. They must continue being a parent to their son, Bridger.

When I think about those who are brave, I think about all the family members who assist their loved ones through various trials in life. May we celebrate and strengthen each other as we support one another in kindness and love.

"Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who hope in the LORD." (Psalm 31:24)