My life is full of wondrous things, the best of which are the people I love. We had a benefit for one of my sisters last night and got to see so many of those people, sharing as only family and friends can, in helping her fight the battle against cancer.
There are too many emotions to simplify all that we held in our hearts as we shared the night, snacking on some favorite foods, playing original songs, betting against each other for beautiful works of art...hugging, holding, giving up old grudges, making peace with our past and being, simply, ourselves.
The only way I stop my sister from working on the benefit WITH us was to explain that it was the only way we had to really help her. We can't go through the chemo, we can't feel the pain and we can't suffer the fear and anger she feels. We feel our own anger at the demon none of us can see.
The benefit was a means to an end in many ways. Benefit...the result of a positive action. Benefit...helping others. Benefit...making the world a better place. Benefit...moving forward, changing negative (poison) into positive (medicine). None of us can know the future, but we can do everything in our power to create a positive life that touches others. Whatever pain I feel, someone else is feeling more. How wonderful it would be if I could say, whatever joy I feel, someone else, somewhere, is feeling more.
