Adversity

          How do we handle adversity? Should we be like a duck and let it just shed off of our backs like water? "Nothing will bother me!" Maybe we can hold on to it and let it rule and control our lives and then complain about how unfair life is and even pull out the “Why me God?”

          My wife and I had a young friend who was taken very early in her life (30’s) and when we met her one of her thoughts was “Why not me?” She often expressed to us and others “What makes me different or special?” Her signature on e-mails and boards said it all, “Every day above the ground is a good day!”

          Here she was having been diagnosed with breast cancer at an extremely early time in her life, undergoing treatments, deserted by her husband, facing life with an attitude that said, “Give it your best shot.”

          She refused to be defined by her circumstances or her illness. Her passing was a harsh reality for friends and family. Most of us reacted with stunned disbelief. How could she be gone so quickly? She had done nothing to deserve this, yet, her thought, “Why not me?” gave us some comfort.

          So now, facing my own adversity (an aneurysm on a major artery) , I do not question God, “Why me?” instead like my friend, I say, “Why not me?” So is there something to be learned from this?

          Yes! My wife said it this way, maybe the reason I haven’t been able the last couple months to do my physical therapy or exercise like I want is because I might have caused myself irreparable harm! When the doctor told me of my condition he instructed me not to lift anything over 5 pounds, no physical exertion (he does realize that just standing up weighing 300+ pounds is physical exertion?) and to take “two chill pills” he was telling me this was a serious issue.

          Welcome to adversity Mario! I would have never thought that the first words from my doctor’s phone call would be, “Are you sitting down?”

          Yet as my wife reminded me, “We are survivors!” Yes I am! I will not let this define me or dictate to others who I am! I am still Mario, the man who has a good time where ever he goes. With the strength and support of friends and family we will make it through this and when we come through this adversity we will be the stronger for it.

         

          So, then, what will you do about adversity?