Whether it was her intention or not, Brittany Maynard shined a huge spotlight on not only the conversation about choosing one's own death, but the devastation of brain cancer. The fear, the poor prognoses, the pain, the disabilities it causes, the hunt for hope. I say that last, because I don't think Brittany got that far. I'm not criticizing her in any way; I just think that she got stuck in the fear and pain part of cancer, and I personally believe there is a lot more to it. In Brittany's case, we will never know---never know how long she may have lived, what joy she could have brought to her friends and family in her final days, despite her own suffering. I prayed for Brittany when I first learned of her story, and I prayed for her every day, including the day of her death. I hope in her final moments alone with God, she found peace and light.
I choose a different direction though-----THROUGH. Through the terror, the fear, the what-ifs, the physical pain, the frustration of the unknown. I believe that there is more purpose in cancer than a physical ailment, than a medical procedure (or two, or three). I don't believe that it's that black and white. And if you tread slowly THROUGH all those difficult challenges that come along with cancer, there is even GREATER joy than before cancer, because you have GRATITUDE to go along with it. You're thankful for EVERYTHING. Yes, even when your kids are screaming at you because you bought the wrong brand of yogurt, heaven forbid. Even when your 1-year-old sneezes all the way down the back of your shirt on the way out of the door (True story). EVERYTHING. You realize that although there is a wonderful life in the hereafter, THIS life has been given to you as a gift. It's like God tossed you a pretty present and then sat back to see what you're going to do with it.
What ARE you going to do with it?
I choose a different direction though-----THROUGH. Through the terror, the fear, the what-ifs, the physical pain, the frustration of the unknown. I believe that there is more purpose in cancer than a physical ailment, than a medical procedure (or two, or three). I don't believe that it's that black and white. And if you tread slowly THROUGH all those difficult challenges that come along with cancer, there is even GREATER joy than before cancer, because you have GRATITUDE to go along with it. You're thankful for EVERYTHING. Yes, even when your kids are screaming at you because you bought the wrong brand of yogurt, heaven forbid. Even when your 1-year-old sneezes all the way down the back of your shirt on the way out of the door (True story). EVERYTHING. You realize that although there is a wonderful life in the hereafter, THIS life has been given to you as a gift. It's like God tossed you a pretty present and then sat back to see what you're going to do with it.
What ARE you going to do with it?
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