Gay N. Lewis: Dancing in the Rain

Thursday, August 16, 2018

Dancing in the Rain

Ever had one of those days when crying seemed a good idea?

Yep, me too.

Especially lately.

From time to time, I write about our ill daughter. I don't talk about her often, just sometimes.

Her disease is a painful one to experience. Dementia. Alzheimer's. She's too young for it, but disease respects no gender, skin color, nationality, or age.

Of course all fatal disease is horrific, and we who stand by to comfort and help the ill person find it difficult. Some days we're at a loss as to what to say or do.

My dear, sweet, cousin, who was more like a brother to me, died a few years ago with oral cancer. The doctors removed his tongue. That was horrific, too. No longer could he talk or eat. He spent one day in bed. Silent. He then accepted his condition, got up, and became an inspiration for us all. He lived his remaining days with

a positive attitude. He wrote notes. He called on the phone and pressed buttons to make tones. He ran his business while ill.

He danced in the rain.

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's learning to dance in the rain."--Vivian Green.

I don't know what Ms Green was going through when she penned the phrase, but isn't it excellent?

Some rainstorms last a long time. Dancing is a challenge during a torrential downpour.

A patient with dementia can live for 8 to 10 years or longer, declining each day. These patients degenerate until only a shell of a person remains.

God didn't give us any pleasant ailments. Suffering isn't fun. Grief and misery takes work and faith.

Here's a scene from an a Sarah book coming in November. Sarah, a klutzy angel, is appearing as a 90 year old human lady. Julie, her charge, faces a monumental decision.

Julie folded her hands and chewed her lip. She finally glanced up. “Believing is difficult.”

Sarah answered without a beat. “Look at it this way. Ya go to sleep at night believin’ you’ll wake up in the mornin’. Ya get on an airplane believin’ it will get ya someplace. You go to the doctor sick and trust him to prescribe the correct medicine. See? You use faith in everyday situations. Ya just don’t think about it. You live it. Faith becomes part of you. Believin’ is a matter of choice."

Sarah gave good advice. Faith is a matter of choice, but at times, it's a difficult choice to make.

Here's one thing I've learned. It's okay to cry while you dance.