jakorte's blog

“Watch the sun come up.”
Just another one of those silly tinfoil chocolate advisories.

Obviously, the sun comes up while I’ve got my eyes on the road and off the road watching for traffic and wayward critters. Once in a while, I notice some pretty hues.

A friend told me about a little girl with cancer who’s dream of going to Disney World was granted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Despite that generosity, it does not appear that she will be making that trip. As of last week, she had been placed on hospice. Talk got around to how we could make Disney come to her; perhaps a visit from Cinderella? A local costume company said, “Yes,” they had a princess costume, but “No” they would not donate its use.

Maybe in this economic climate they felt they could not afford to do so. Maybe they had been taken advantage of before. Maybe it wasn’t made clear enough that tomorrow one less little pair of eyes might not see the sun rise.
I know I’m sounding way too judgmental for a woman who has been lax about even paying attention to sunrises for quite some time now.

I also know that I am blessed to have the sweetest memory of Jeff’s voice every morning declaring, “The sun’s comin’ up on another beautiful day!” It didn’t really matter what the weather was, and it certainly didn’t matter what his pain level was. He truly found joy in just being able to see the sun rise up for one more day.

Tomorrow may never come again for this child, whose family will go on without her; saddened and changed, treasuring little gifts stored away as memories – which are the most precious things.

I pray that they will end up understanding, and end up as I am: peaceful that the suffering is over, not happy about the way things are, but ever more so able to appreciate the sunrise – knowing what it is really worth – and taking the time to do so.

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning; Lamentations 3:22-23

In this issue: Make-A-Wish Foundation, Igloo Coolers, Life is Hard Work
Now posted: Shiny Yellow Locks, & Coolers; Slidell, LA, October 2008