“Therefore do not
worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough
trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34
I always love to hear the inspirational stories that are
aired during sports programs, particularly this past weekend when the Superbowl
dominated all the headlines. I was fascinated with the story of the head
coaches—brothers born only 15 months apart—for the 49ers and the Ravens. According to one commentator, their father
played a huge role in their positive attitude and willingness to take risks,
encouraging them to appreciate every moment and reminding them daily as he
drove them to school: “This is as good as it gets!” What I love so much about that comment is
that he didn’t tell his sons this at the obvious times in life. It’s easy to
feel that “life is good” euphoria when you survey the vista before skiing down
the back bowls at Vail, sail on Lake Michigan, or sip pina coladas in the
Hawaiian Islands. Those moments are special, but they are not a part of daily
life for most of us. The true treasures of our lives are found in our daily
relationships and opportunities. The gift that Mr. Harbaugh was giving to his
sons was the idea that every day is filled with blessings, every day has the
opportunity to become a special memory. My mantra is very similar to the
Harbaugh family’s, only I stole it from the Carly Simon song “Anticipation.” At
some point nearly every week, her beautiful voice plays through my mind,
singing, “So stay right here, because THESE ARE THE GOOD OLD DAYS.” These are the
moments and the days that I will look back on fondly as “the good old days”,
even if they are sometimes challenging days. I have to resist the temptation to
pine away for the past, for the way things used to be before I was diagnosed
with cancer. I have to resist the temptation to ruin the memories of today by
allowing my thoughts to dwell on the fears of what tomorrow might bring. As
Carly sings, “I’m no prophet, and I don’t know Nature’s ways.” We don’t know
what the future will bring, but we have today—THAT is reason enough to
celebrate. I was especially challenged to live out this attitude during my bone
marrow transplant, when I had to live away from my family for more than two
months. My mother-in-law stayed with me and cared for me, and I tried to
appreciate those days as a special time that I would share with her. Rather
than feeling resentful that I was living in exile with the same companion day
in and day out, I gave thanks to God for that time to heal and to rest and to
grow closer to an amazing woman. God in His mercy had given me the grace to
realize that the meals she made, the game shows that we watched together, the
books we shared and the sweet pedicures she gave me, would someday become a
precious memory. Sure enough, just a few months after my recovery, my
mother-in-law discovered that her uterine cancer had returned, and she has been
struggling ever since. I was incredibly blessed to have been the recipient of
her love and care during some of the best months she may have had left. Just a
little more than a year later, I can already look back on those days with
nostalgia and give thanks to God. In their own way, they were also “the good
old days.”
Carly sings it best: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NwP3wes4M8
Thank You, Father, for
daily reminders of Your goodness and care for me. Every day You surround me
with gifts of love and friendship, and You meet all my needs. Thank You for
this moment, for the life that You have given me, and for the special memories
that I will make today. Help me not to dwell on the past or entertain
foreboding thoughts of the future, but to “stay right here” and to embrace today.
