Give love, and let it come in

"The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in." Morrie Schwartz

Did you ever have one of those really bad or frustrating weeks where you think, My God, can it get any worse? You’re late for work, you had an argument with someone, you burn the meal or your car breaks down? Last week, was just one of those weeks with me, starting with a bit of a battle between my daughter and I, my car broke down over 50 miles from home, and I had to get 5 people home, and then, there were those moments of just stupid frustrations. That hit me all in one day. As one thing led to the next that Sunday, my frustration level grew.

After a long day, I got home flicked on my computer to check messages and Facebook. It was then, that reality hit me with a huge slap in the face. A family that I’ve been friends with all my life had organized, attended, and posted pictures of a neighborhood event that they had for their neighbor, a young boy who has been battling cancer for 3 years. Though you saw a picture perfect day, and smiles ~ by the sheer sight of this poor child, and the notes and messages that were posted, I knew, that the prognosis was the unfathomable. Here I was getting myself worked up over what really was nothing that mattered the next day … and this little boy was battling a disease that the largest and bravest of men and women cannot always win.

I first heard of this boy, Ben, when our family friend’s 5-year old daughter decided to have a lemonade stand last year to raise money for her friend, Ben. That lemonade stand got some pretty awesome press in this article, and in this one, because it raised over $10,000 – that’s not a type-o, that was indeed, over ten thousand dollars. Young Aiva learned at a very young age, what Morrie Schwartz lived, “The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and let it come in.” From all accounts, she loved her very special friend and he loved her too.

This past weekend, my daughter’s college soccer team dedicated their soccer game to an 8-year old boy battling cancer. He wasn’t able to be at the game because he was having a treatment. Fans from both sides willingly bought up bracelets that had been made for this young boy. He isn’t as famous as LiveStrong ~ but ShellStrong’s impact on a team of girls and the fans, was as powerful. None of us sitting in the stands ever want to know what it’s like to have a child take on this battle.

Sadly, Ben lost his battle yesterday afternoon. How can hearing about the tragedy of someone I’ve never met snap me back into the reality of, ‘is this problem that I’m experiencing that terrible? Will it matter tomorrow?’ Not that I didn’t hug my kids tight, but I hugged them a little tighter and wanted to protect them a little more. This horrible disease discriminates against no-one - gender, religion, nationality or age. Show your support – give out your love, and let it come in, it is a beautiful gift.

I do promise to find a brighter and cheerier topic for my next blog.