During the time approaching the second Cancer surgery, I was working through the book, Six Weeks to a Simpler Lifestyle by Barbara Degrote-Sorensen and David Allen Sorensen. (Minneapolis, MN : Augsburg, ©1994.) On week 3, day 7, the topic was “Saying Goodbye.” Here is what I wrote.
(From my journal dated 6/26/2000).
I praise You, Lord, for Your gift of peace
as I say goodbye to health.
I praise You, Lord, for Your gift of strength
as I learn to welcome dependency.
For pride is a failing of the weak – humility requires strength.
You are pruning me to simplicity –
taking health, security, plans, my days;
And giving back Your holy Self
and the love of Your body, my friends.
I think that I begin to see the trade is more than fair to me.
You are doing something, aren’t You, Lord?
A miracle of Body Care.
And giving me a central role
to mold Your body to a whole.
Now really – what are teeth and bone, a little pain,
compared to that?