When I was in High school, I volunteered at the Ronald McDonald house. The other day, I was remembering my time there. It was an old, small home that had been converted to accommodate several families. Every time I walked in, it felt warm. It was a place that housed families in the midst of incredible battles. Families would stay there while their kids were undergoing treatments to keep them alive.
The other day I got to thinking how every time I spoke with the kids undergoing these treatments, I hardly remember ever hearing fear in their voices or words. These kids were mature beyond their years and very much understood that they could loose their lives. Yet, in all they did, all they spoke, all they lived, there was never a hint of fear. Well, let me clarify, their were cautious words and tears shed out of the fear of what the side effects of the treatment were going to be, but I don't remember a fear of death.
I think that comes with age.
As we get older, if we think our life is in jeopardy, we fear being gone. Not getting to finish all the things we started. Fear of leaving people we think so much of. It amazes me how we pay so much respect and honor to the threat of death, yet so very little to life. I myself am guilty. Guilty of putting value in other's lives, yet, if that life were in jeopardy, the level of value I put on them, the time I invest, etc would escalate greatly. Why is that? Why is it that the value of someone's everyday life is so minimized compared to the thought of death. Do we put so much more value in the threat of death than in the every day's of life? Is it because of fear?
I don't know. I guess just been doing some thinking lately. As the holidays round the corner, I know that it is during this time that we make contact with people we normally don't speak to all year round. (even if it is just in the form of a card) But in all of that, knowing that I am guilty of not valuing the lives around me, I feel challenged to try harder. I know that time slips away. I know it is difficult sometimes. But in that, how many times do we sit in room with people and not engage in their lives? How many times do we have 10 minutes in the car to drop a quick call?
I guess I am hoping that we will all choose to let life motivate us, not the threat of death.
....a bit somber topic today, but for whatever reason, I got to thinking about the Ronald McDonald house kids and how they inspired me so much back then. I don't know what happened to them, but, regardless, their spirit/the memories of them very much still live in my life!
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