Today I spent part of the afternoon with my daughter and her friends outside the grocery store so their team could raise money for Relay for Life later in May.
When I talk about our struggles having purpose, this is an example of the good that came out of our family going through our walk with cancer last year.
Soon after I was diagnosed my daughter heard about the Relay for Life event and was determined to create a team with her friends and raise money for fight this awful disease.
Did I want cancer? No.
But am I grateful that my eleven year old daughter took the hand she was dealt and was intrinsically motivated to make a difference? Absolutely!
On the outside, my now 12 year old daughter, radiates joy and on the inside she is one of the strongest, most determined and resilient, caring, loving souls I know.
I have had people say that the money she raises doesn’t go to ACC and the percentage collected that goes to research is minimal. I hear that, but listen...I am not going to stop her when she is intrinsically motivated to make a difference in this world.
Instead I choose to stand beside her and encourage her. Why? Because when our kids choose to be a part of making a difference and want to be a part of the solution, they are on their path towards their greater purpose in life and I refuse to be a stumbling block on her journey.
I share this with you because at one point or another we are all dealt a bad hand. Yet I invite you to take a moment to join me to ...
Pause. Breathe. Pray.
And like my daughter, may we see our struggles as an opportunity to be a part of the solution. Even if not for ourselves, for the next person in line. May we see where there is a need and go close to it. May we be intrinsically drawn closer to our greater purpose ~ to be the change we need to see in the world.
And as parents, even though we may see things from a different angle, may we meet our children where they are with love and walk beside them and support them while they do the work that is theirs to do to be a part of the solution to things like finding a cure for cancer.
With love and hope,
Shawn