"Stay Strong!" I heard my friend say to me...
My response was, "I will try my best".
As I sat down and I thought about this
conversation. The more I thought about this the more I got convinced that it
might not be entirely possible.
These two words, as well as they mean
has probably been my biggest down fall over the last three months. I mean... It
is really easier said then done...
What does it mean anyway? Does it mean don't
cry (at least not in-front of us)? Does it mean don't show emotions? What do
people mean when they say, "Stay Strong"? I say this not in a judgemental way or unappreciative of the sentiment, but rather in trying to make sense of this "grieving thing".
I have been trying to be strong... but
the more I try, the worse I feel. The more I pray for strength to carry my
cross and follow Jesus, the harder it appears to be. I guess this is the law of
nature or something... If a person wants muscles, then that person must gym. You don't get muscles by watching other work-out! As
they say, "No Pain no Gain".
But I struggle with this... 'working - out'. How do you
do this in a healthy way? I mean, even Body-builders need a break every now and
then (don't they?). If not, their muscles might tear or they might collapse from
exhaustion or something... isn't it? We cannot just be expected to stay
strong... to keep going irrespective of the strain or pain... or should we?
On Sunday, the Preacher spoke of Moses
holding up his arms in battle, so as to ensure the success of the battle. When he got tired, he had people alongside him to carry him and lift his arms high. That's when I realized that sometimes being strong means allowing others to
assist you.
Thank you friends and family for your
support. Thank you for holding us up when we could not stand. Without your
caring and support we could not have walked the last three mouths. We are truly
This is the time that I have to
acknowledge my most awesome wife, Desiree. In her I have found courage and
strength. She has held my arms up even when she struggled to stand herself.
Thank you my love for standing with me, for carrying me and being my compass
back to faith, strength and sanity. Thank you for being you. You are truly more
then I deserve.
So, what am I really on about? I think
what I am saying is that being strong sometimes mean leaning on others, even,
or rather, especially when you think you don't need to. So, I resolve to stop perpetuating
a stereo typical view of strength, but to rather take each day as it come. To
raise my hands up... helping others to fight the good fight and every now then
lean back into (depending) on the arms of others to carry me through.
There is pain in this world! There is hardship and struggle, but we are never as alone as we think we are.
