Speed bumps and Parachute lines

Have you ever been driving along and all of a sudden hit a speed bump that you didn’t know was there --one of those HUGE speed bumps that bounces you so hard that if you were not wearing your seatbelt you would have smacked your head on the windshield?

This past month our whole family hit a huge life speed bump. One that shook us up, rattled us and made us lose control of what we had been doing. Dad was not feeling good and experiencing problems that don’t normally happen with congestive heart failure, so he went to the doctor. He was told that there was a chance that he had cancer. Test after scary stressful test were given and the waiting was torture. The month of July was swallowed up by doctor and hospital visits. After all of the tests were done and results were given, we found out that Dad has stage 4 prostate cancer (the severest stage).

Have you ever been skydiving? Me either. But I do know from watching my brother and helping him pack them back in the day that in addition to the chute, the lines are checked over and over. The lines hold and support the jumper and they are what you control the chute with. Friends are like parachute lines. They “hold you up” “support” you and when needed, help give you direction.

The afternoon when we got the diagnosis I sent out a txt message to a couple of people. I was overwhelmed with everyone’s response. One of my friends dropped her twins off with her nanny and drove right over. Offered her shoulder for me to cry on and of course brought some chocolate – just because chocolate helps make everything better. Prayers and fast were done on my family’s behalf. I had a friend call me when I was at my lowest point telling me that I am not alone in this, that I will be ok, that I can survive this new trial and the added responsibility now on my shoulders. I have had the “boss” line removed by my employees and they have comforted me when I break down in tears, helped me to be crazy some times and have just been there to support and help me.

I, like anyone else in similar situations, would rather not have had such a huge speed bump hit my family. But then I would not have known just how strong those lines of support and friendship are. To each of you, thank you, ….thank you for ALL of the support and not letting me fall out of my “chute”.