Today, we had the privilege of serving our community by playing for some elderly folks at the Pitman Manor. Yes, I require the boys to take music lessons. It builds character. I think. They are allowed to pick an instrument after one year of piano instruction. Our youngest son seems to have gotten himself around that rule.

Justin announced a few weeks ago that he would resume drum lessons and perform at the upcoming recital. I somehow ended up accompanying him. Years of not practicing has taken me spiraling down from Beethoven to squinting and clunking through Skip to my Lou. My parents must be so proud.

We are very grateful for what I consider another step in Justin’s recovery process. He voluntarily took on a challenge, worked at it and achieved a goal, despite illness and fatigue. This is another demonstration of Justin’s tenacious, fighting spirit, which I’ll admit being fond of even though, quite often, his willfulness is directed at me and  I end up helplessly driven to cream cheese and L’0real Root Rescue 100% grey coverage. Respectively.

Tonight, as I gave Justin another handful of pills to swallow, he sighed and said indignantly, “Mommy. When will I be done cancer?” (I must add that Justin learning how to swallow pills has been a huge relief and gift from above!!)

I told him that he IS “done cancer” and the purpose of the medication is to keep it from coming back. He does not know that he will be in treatment, gulping handfuls of nauseating pills and having chemicals injected into his spine, until March, 2019. He doesn’t know because that is an overwhelmingly long time to a six-year-old. Um, it’s pretty overwhelming at thirty-eight, too.

But I can choose NOT to dwell on it, living in God’s generous portion of grace given EACH DAY. And, today, He gave us songs.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:8-11