AM in a hospital waiting room writing this piece: All around me are solemn faces, hushed voices, anxious looks, people looking worriedly at each other, scared, frightened: Watching a doctor as he comes out of a closed door, with apprehension and even terror! And some corner bursts of unnatural, artificial laughter as loved ones try to find relief in forced humor!
People look at me and I feel a little guilty about looking quite healthy! “I’m sorry!” I want to tell them, “Actually I’m not as healthy as I look. Last week I had a stomach ache when I overate and the week before…….” The people don’t seem to be too impressed with my silent explanations.
But I move from bantering to a more serious note: I look around me. I see anxious faces. I think of my loved ones at home. No anxiety. Everybody happy their father or husband is okay, alive and kicking. But are we thankful? Are you thankful your mother, father, children are healthy and well? What is it that happens when you discover you or a loved one has cancer or any other life threatening disease? Your life is turned upside down. You cry for yesterday. You long for the time when all was well in your little world.
But when all was well in your little world did you give God thanks? Did you show gratefulness for so great a thing as being able to breathe without an oxygen mask? Hair falling off due to chemotherapy? Words failing as a heart refuses to give strength to speak? Were you thankful for healthy days? Are you thankful for your good health? If not then through my eyes see what I am seeing right now: Solemn faces, hushed voices, anxious looks, people looking worriedly at each other and in some corner bursts of unnatural, artificial laughter as loved ones try to find relief in forced humour. It isn’t a nice scene.
It’s horrible and dreadful. People watch as I write, and as I look at them, I whisper through this column: Lets just thank God this very moment that we can read, we can see and we are healthy, shall we?
