Why not lean on one who is stronger?

When my Uncle George was in an accidental fire, and 60 percent of his body was covered in second and third degree burns, the doctors warned visitors coming for the first time NOT to act too alarmed.

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The doctors said that visitors must guard their own emotional reactions in front of my Uncle to help him keep his courage up to fight for his life. My Uncle’s father walked into the room and immediately exited despite his best efforts, his physical response overwhelming him. He could not remain calm, emotionally or physically, as he tried to look at the form of my Uncle with a distanced compassion, who was conscious and carefully watching every reaction.

“Will I be ok?” my Uncle wondered, as he watched the reactions of his loved ones.

Relative after relative, friend after friend prepared themselves emotionally, physically, and spiritually before entering my Uncle’s room, and, one by one, they left immediately afterward, unable to stay for more than a few moments.

Except for one relative.

My grandmother, whom we called Noni. The one whom I looked up to as a child, and whom my cousins also looked up to. We would sit in her kitchen as she doled out ice cream or hot chocolate and absorb her wisdom as readily as we absorbed her treats.

Honestly, not a day goes by that I don’t think about [Noni/ Grandmother] and how she was my rock and inspired me to carry on with my life and not be angry or negative. I feel very fortunate to have had her as my mother and I want to live the rest of my life as per her example.

Uncle George

That day, she entered my Uncle George’s room, knelt by his bed, took his hand, and stayed in his room until he had recovered, muttering the Rosary under her breath for strength.

And how did she do this seemingly, to others, superhuman feat?

The clue is in the line above. She muttered the Rosary (Catholic prayer beads to help one stay focused). She prayed to God. And He made her strong.

It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness . . . And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.

The Message

And this exchange of weakness for strength happens to others as well, and not infrequently.

Which leaves me to ask: Do we want to be weak, or do we want to be strong?

My own example.

Last night I was startled to learn that that very day, one of my loved ones was in a car in a flash flood. My other loved one in that city walked through a flooded downtown, watching a maintenance hole cover shoot up a foot in the air as it overflowed, sending more water into the already flooded city street.

I was a one-hour drive away, at an idyllic holiday spot, and a storm had gently started to blow here, too. Would the same storm hit us soon? The direction of the wind assumed that this would be so. Should I put our boat onto the anchor, then, a feat that would require me to swim back to shore and to maneuver the boat in storm conditions? Thunder and lightning were close now.

And as I snapped the cover of the boat top shut, my heart pounding (a little) at the thought of an (albeit quick) swim back to shore as lightning and thunder crashed around me, I sang the song “You make me brave” aloud.

Here is the song:

And I survived my harrowing near-death experience (OR tiny bit of anxiety – WHATEVER!) because I chose to lean on God, who makes me strong.

Just like my Noni.

Just like many others through the millennia.

Which makes me wonder: Do we want to be pathetic, wimpy, driveling, fear-filled losers, or do we want to be strong, courageous and admirable (like me)? Oh! And like Noni, and even (!) God, too! Oh, and because of God, I should add!

So, there’s a question for you to ponder today.

You’re welcome!

Good luck!

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