Fourteen Years
Another Day Along the Way
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Another day,
14 years.
The baby boy's mother held him at breakfast yesterday as I watched and ate and wrote. The boy stared toward his father, toward the morning sunshine, toward a hotel's screen, almost smiling in a world he hardly knew. He wouldn't understand the number fourteen or the word years. His parents have little ideas of what will occur in their next 14 years together. The milk in the bottle and the baby seat will be gone. What will arrive? Teen energy and personal opinions, ball games and girlfriends, tests at school and tests in life.
14 years.
14 years of marriage? 14 years at a job? 14 years in a home? 14 years since a poor decision, a new commitment, a wise choice, a report from the doctor? 14 years of waiting for a prayer to be answered or a dream to be fulfilled? 14 years of refusing to forgive?
When we were 14 years old there were some days when 14 minutes lasted for days, weeks. Now? 14 months rush past in 14 seconds.
Today is the 14th anniversary of a surprise. March 6, 1996, encephalitis visited my body, my brain, my life. I've talked about and written about the event and the long term effect. Issues of memory, of change, of epilepsy.
What is your story? What decisions 14 years or 14 days ago are affecting the present? What choices and commitments can you make today that will bring new hope to you and others 14 months from now?
My brain damage caused memory loss. For us all, maybe today we need to finally forget something from 14 months ago. For us all, a proper loss of some memory can heal, forgive, release.
Our aging and changing, our years of pain and pleasure, our joy and sorrow, our strength and our weakness: think of 14 experiences of healing, 14 dreams of the future, 14 reasons to celebrate. And, if you think or feel nothing positive at all, can you pause for 14 seconds and rejoice by choice?
Let this March be a month of recovery and appreciation. Let this March be a month to remember for reasons of renewal. Let this March be a season of motivation to change our minds and choose to think better, live better, and become free. 14 years and months and days are waiting. Let us walk into them in the march of anticipation.
14 years.
Along the way,
Chris Maxwell
Practical Suggestion: Take time to smile someone's pain away. Pray, believing God's mercy and help can flow through you to them.
(Chris Maxwell, Changing My Mind: A Journey of Disability and Joy)
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Another day,
14 years.
The baby boy's mother held him at breakfast yesterday as I watched and ate and wrote. The boy stared toward his father, toward the morning sunshine, toward a hotel's screen, almost smiling in a world he hardly knew. He wouldn't understand the number fourteen or the word years. His parents have little ideas of what will occur in their next 14 years together. The milk in the bottle and the baby seat will be gone. What will arrive? Teen energy and personal opinions, ball games and girlfriends, tests at school and tests in life.
14 years.
14 years of marriage? 14 years at a job? 14 years in a home? 14 years since a poor decision, a new commitment, a wise choice, a report from the doctor? 14 years of waiting for a prayer to be answered or a dream to be fulfilled? 14 years of refusing to forgive?
When we were 14 years old there were some days when 14 minutes lasted for days, weeks. Now? 14 months rush past in 14 seconds.
Today is the 14th anniversary of a surprise. March 6, 1996, encephalitis visited my body, my brain, my life. I've talked about and written about the event and the long term effect. Issues of memory, of change, of epilepsy.
What is your story? What decisions 14 years or 14 days ago are affecting the present? What choices and commitments can you make today that will bring new hope to you and others 14 months from now?
My brain damage caused memory loss. For us all, maybe today we need to finally forget something from 14 months ago. For us all, a proper loss of some memory can heal, forgive, release.
Our aging and changing, our years of pain and pleasure, our joy and sorrow, our strength and our weakness: think of 14 experiences of healing, 14 dreams of the future, 14 reasons to celebrate. And, if you think or feel nothing positive at all, can you pause for 14 seconds and rejoice by choice?
Let this March be a month of recovery and appreciation. Let this March be a month to remember for reasons of renewal. Let this March be a season of motivation to change our minds and choose to think better, live better, and become free. 14 years and months and days are waiting. Let us walk into them in the march of anticipation.
14 years.
Along the way,
Chris Maxwell
Practical Suggestion: Take time to smile someone's pain away. Pray, believing God's mercy and help can flow through you to them.
(Chris Maxwell, Changing My Mind: A Journey of Disability and Joy)
9 Comments:
We both were younger with more hair, younger kids and knew everything. Now, we know less but are more humble - and people think we knew more - go figure. Sorry we had to share your experience 14 years ago but glad I met you.
Oh Chris, how I remember that day 14 years ago. Larry and I were there with you at the hospital that day. You are an
amazing young man. I am so proud of you and all you have done these 14 years. It is truly a miracle.
I love your writing, you are excellent!!
I remember so much that you forget. I didn't know how any of us would make it through that time.
david and i are really glad you have become a part of our lives.
i remember, my friend.
Chris I got to meet You just a few years ago.You are one of Gods mighty tools in helping others.Time can mean many things to people.A Pastor I meet about 11 years ago had a thing He used in one of His Sermons."GOD DOESN'T PUT US IN BAD SITUATIONS,HE GETS US THROUGH THEM."Only God knows what we have been through.Chris You have become a shinning ray for others during times of need.Only You, Debbie and God know the price You have paid.Thankyou,and God Bless You.
Hey Chris--My 14 years was depression, anger, and denial. Amazing how God uses all of it, the struggles and the triumphs, for authentic good--His version of good.
I'm sorry for both of our struggles, but grateful for God who refuses to waste the pain.
You're a blessing. Thanks.
I am glad that you are still here, fourteen years after all of that :)
Those were the days, my friend. Did they end? Did they just change? I am proud of your adjustments. Thanks for keeping at it. Those things you've been writing are coming right at me.
Post a Comment