Thursday, December 2, 2010

While communicating with a friend today, I was reminded that nothing ever stays the same—people—accidents or not. This came up as I offered comfort to my friend who was mourning the loss of his brother…the way he used to be.

Five years back, this friend’s brother suffered a freak major head trauma that had him placed on life support, the family faced with the decision to pull the plug or hope for the best. They opted to hold the faith. The brother pulled through, but has never been the same.

My friend is a truly compassionate soul who loves his brother dearly. He appreciates that his brother is still with him. When they try to do things as they once did, however, he can’t help but be reminded of just how fragile his brother now is. How the simplest things are a mighty challenge and sometimes impossible to accomplish. That reality weighs heavy on my friend and causes my heart to ache for his pain.

Time and circumstance can rob us of what we have grown accustomed to, just as my friend’s old relationship with his brother. But in this, we have a choice, acceptance or struggle against. By accepting, we can hold onto our memories with great fondness while creating new ones. Though our hearts ache for what once was and will never be again, we can embrace what we do have. Appreciate the blessings those things bestow upon us. Cherish our memories. And above all, we can and need to move forward.