Medical students could study my dad’s own physical history and actually be well-equipped for successful careers – four-time cancer survivor, double hip replacement (in the same surgery!), extreme lymphedema and neuropathy of feet and lower legs simply were the most recognizable of dad’s impressive list of illnesses.
One of my brothers once asked dad if he ever had counted the total number of days he spent in the hospital to see how much total time – years – it was. Dad’s quick response was, “Mike, I have no interest in even thinking about that. The way I see it, is that when I was 36, the doctors told me I had 6 weeks to live. Every day that I’ve since then has been a blessing.” Dad lived to be 72.
The First Sunday of Lent gospel is the story of Jesus being tested by Satan in the desert. It is not until we are tested that we discover what we are able to do.
Hard times beyond our control make us bitter or better. How we respond to adversity is our choice. Difficulties can make us stronger, smarter, more resilient and more grateful. Fulton Sheen (+1979) put it much more poetically: “it is when we are in the dark that we can see the stars.”
Unwelcomed challenges are a part of life and find us all. In my most difficult of moments I have drawn strength from my dad’s strong example and trustworthy counsel to worry only about things over which we have control.
Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out.
