To all of you who know someone who is fighting this dreadful disease, know someone who has passed on, or may even be fighting this battle yourself... I hope you find some comfort here at this site, whether it be an article, a link, or even a picture. My heart is with you, for I have lost my dear sister Janel who was only 42 at her passing October 26th, 2009. This young woman never drank alcohol or smoked a day in her life. She was a third degree brown belt in karate and only lived for three days following her diagnosis. I encourage everyone to support research and funding for this silent killer.

Monday, March 7, 2011

When You Feel Sad

When You Feel Sad
by James E. Miller

Your sadness is real, yet it need not be final.
You have known deep joy before;
        you can yet again.
And while your despair brings you pain,
        it can also bring you wisdom and strength.
From it you will learn secrets about yourself,
        and truths about others.
Through it you will experience the blessings of healing,
        and the mysteries of life.
So listen to your despair
        and allow it to lead you to greater fullness.
And always remember: you are not alone.
You are loved, whatever happens.
You have significance, whatever befalls.
For you are an unrepeatable act in God’s grand creation.
You are irreplaceable.
At this moment, your journey in life
        is requiring of you great courage, often unseen by others.
Be strong in your persistence.
Be supple in your patience.
And know: despite your brokenness,
       and somehow even because of it,
       wholeness awaits you.
Despite what you have lost,
      and somehow even because of it,
        you stand to gain.
You hold the possibility of experiencing life
      with a maturity, and a compassion, and an appreciation
        you have never known before.
So be open.
Know that the life which flows through you
        has been given you as a sacred gift.
Cherish that gift.
Nurture it.
Above all else, hallow the preciousness
       of each passing moment that is yours,
       for this is where the miracle of life resides,
       and this is where you must go to find it.
Finally, remember that your destiny was predicted
       by the writer of the Book of Job:
"You will forget your misery,
you will remember it as waters that have passed away.
And your life will be brighter than the noonday;
its darkness will be like the morning.
And you will have confidence,

because there is hope."

 
This excerpt is from the conclusion to the Willowgreen videotape Listen to Your Sadness: Finding Hope Again After Despair Invades Your Life by James E. Miller.