Good Problems Come with Solutions

We all have hard weeks. While we are in the middle of it, it's hard to look past it, but sometimes all we need to do is to take a deep breath and reflect a little bit. We need to remind ourselves that in time, it will end. Just hang in there.

The past couple of days haven't been easy, but I know I can't complain. I know this is week will come to an end, and soon everything is going to be back to normal.

I love this time of the year. Actually, I love all seasons but I do enjoy every time a new one starts and brings a bit of change. Not that the seasons are very well defined here in Miami, but at least we get to wear some warmer clothes when we start to approach the end of autumn. I've been ready for cooler weather. However, the bad news is that with long-sleeve shirts and boots comes the season to be sick.

Thankfully, I haven't gotten sick so far and I am praying to God he will keep it that way, otherwise, I will be spending Thanksgiving in bed just like two years ago when I got the flu. Now, my daughter and husband are the sick ones, and it's been hard to keep up with household chores considering the lack of quality sleep. I have spent every single day this week stuck inside the house, mostly caring for my daughter, without setting foot outside the house. I do try to have the shades and blinds opened once I wake up. I enjoy the light and being able to see the outside, rain or shine. I think both are very beautiful, but it's not quite the same as actually feeling what the outdoors brings.

It wasn't until yesterday when my husband decided to not go to work with a fever that I was finally was able to get out of the house and run some errands. Just looking at the sky, at the clouds, the palm trees . . . Everything is so amazing! I felt thankful for my sight. More than that, I felt so blessed even though my daughter was ill—and no parent wants to see their child in pain—I was able to change my mindset and recharge my batteries after taking advantage of what nature was presenting to me. So, I stopped feeling bad for myself when I remembered something I’d heard:

“You know, Nanda. Sometimes I just sit here on this hospital bed looking through that small window over there." She paused while motioning her head up toward the window. "I hope someday I can go back out there and enjoy it, just like everyone else. We take it for granted."

Hearing those words from a very good friend (we were only teenagers was a very sad thing, indeed. As any teen, she wanted to one day become a grown up, get married, have children. Suddenly, Life came to her on a Sunday evening and said, “Not so fast, buddy!” If she didn't make the decision to the hospital that night, she very likely wouldn't be here today. Back then, we didn't know what was going to happen. She was hospitalized for quite a while. While she stayed, I was blessed enough to walk out of that hospital and go home, but I never forget those words.

Sometimes, we live our lives without taking into consideration what destiny could bring us tomorrow. I am not talking about death necessarily. However, it's undeniable that what happened to my friend could happen to any of us. She was very lucky. I like to believe that God gave her a second chance.

The thing is, we don't think much about the people that wake up every single day fighting for life. To live just for one more day. We don't think about the ones stuck in hospital beds just hoping to one day get out. We don't think that there are many out there who have lost hope and all they can do at this point is to wait for the day everything is finally going to be over.

My daughter is sick right now, but I know the flu is going away soon. I don't like to see my daughter in pain; if I could take it all and feel it for her I would, but I can't, and she will be fine. Now, think about the many parents that go through really serious diseases with their children and feel hopeless. It could be any of us. My heart goes out to them. I hope God keeps taking good care of them and their children. May he fill them and their families with strength.

For today, I just want to say how I am thankful to God and for the amazing things he has created for us.