TOGETHER

A couple is fighting cancer.  Yes, I said couple. 

The wife posted on Facebook: (During the ride to have a biopsy)  “I looked over and asked, “What are you thinking?  You’ve been really quiet.  Are you able to share with me, because we’re in this together.”  Then you said, “I‘ve had a Great life.  I have a beautiful family whom I love and I know loves me.  Whatever GOD says is ok with me.  It’s in his hands.”

As I read this, my thought was how beautiful the word together is.  He is not doing this alone!  He is doing this together with his wife.  He is not doing this alone!  He is doing this together with God.  Then the comments started.

• Hugs
• If you need anything we are here for you.
• Love you all dearly.
• You are an inspiration to those who have the honor of knowing you.  You are true witnesses of our Loving God
• You got this.  You’re a fighter
• Amen

He is not doing this alone!  He is doing this together with his friends.

How beautiful the word together is.  How frightening the opposite word can be.  When there is no together, there is alone. 

Alone can be okay.  There is no need to be with other people all the time.  But, alone can be heavy.  Alone can be frightening.  Alone can be a dark time for many people.

About a year ago, a friend was going through a rough time.  Even though this person’s life contained family and friends, the only way they felt was alone.  One night I woke up and wrote this.  My friend has never seen it because the season of alone was finally put away.

Alone

The room may be crowded.  There may be hundreds of people.  Or, there may be only three.  It does not matter.  I am alone.

The are no empty chairs.  Every seat is filled.  To my right and to my left, every inch of the room is occupied.  It does not matter.  I am alone.

I am ...  one.  Only ....  one.  And in a universe of couples, I am alone.

There is no hand to hold.  No ...  laugh to share.  There is no one to see the tear in my eye ...  I am alone.

And then, ever so softly, a memory brushes my tears away.  And the sound of a long forgotten joy echoes in my heart.  And ...  my hand, ...  my hand opens quickly and reaches out and ...  grabs a past I do not want to let go of.  And there is no one there.  I am alone.

A memory

A forgotten joy

A past I do not want to let go of ...

It is then I realize ...  I ...  am alone.  ...  but I am ...  not.

I share the very air I breathe ...  with a universe of couples.  With a room full of people.  With three or hundreds. 

In one heartbeat ...  one heartbeat ...  I understand that I am not alone. 

I may walk through a door ...  by myself...

I may enter a room ...  by myself

I may sit in a chair ...  by myself

I may make decisions ...  by myself

I may cry and read and cook and eat and work and play and rest ...  by myself

But I am never ...  alone.

A past I do not want to let go of ...  surrounds me and accompanies me to my future, I am never ...  alone.

Children ...  grandchildren ...  are forever in my heart, I am never ...  alone.

A friend writes in the middle of the night, I am never ...  alone.

And my Soul hears a mighty whisper, “My child, you are never ...  never ...  alone.”

——————

If you never read another of my blogs and if you cannot remember what I wrote last week, remember this: YOU ARE NEVER ALONE!  You may be by yourself, but YOU ARE NEVER ALONE! 

When a word such as cancer enters your world, you do not have to go through it alone.

When a loved one dies, you do not have to go through it alone.

When life hands you a trial or a joy, you do not have to go through it alone.

YOU ARE NEVER ALONE!  You are surrounded by family and friends and God. 

And someone might just be thinking of you in the middle of the night.

YOU ARE NEVER ALONE!  Reach out, because God is right there.  God is holding you so gently you might not feel his touch.  Call out to him.  He will tighten his hold until you relax into his assurance that you are in this together.

Together — what a beautiful word.