<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div>John, thank you for sharing this. It serves as a good reminder about what really matters in life and how not to take the smallest things for granted. </div><div><br></div><div>Melanie </div><div><br><br></div><div><br>On Mar 13, 2015, at 11:52 AM, John Glisson via Nfbk <<a href="mailto:nfbk@nfbnet.org">nfbk@nfbnet.org</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 12 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText">Strong is….<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText">By Michelle Baute<a name="_GoBack"></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText">I just read an article from a cancer mom on being strong. I agreed with everything she said- except "tucking away your emotions".<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText">I am just not able to do that all the time and upon reflection, here is my list of being strong.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText">Strong is carrying on even though you want to break down. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText">Strong is breaking down, anyway.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText">Strong is 'whatever gets you through the night'- xanax, wine, anti-depressants, ambien. Take your pick.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText">Strong is taking time for yourself.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText">Strong is being consumed with worry over every little ailment.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText">Strong is waiting for the doctor to call / email you back.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText">Strong is imagining the worst and then if that doesn't happen- feeling elated.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText">Strong is getting up and going to work every morning despite the worry.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText">Strong is coming to terms everyday with your new reality.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText">Strong is getting a good night's sleep.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText">Strong is feeling guilty for taking a walk, running an errand, or just being able to leave the hospital room.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText">Strong is being there for your child when she feels sad and unrecognizable due to her steroids.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText">Strong is listening to her steroid crying rages.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText">Strong is making her go outside of the house, even though she refuses.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText">Strong is still being the bitchy parent when your child plays on your sympathies to get something she wants.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText">Strong is walking with her in public and acting like it's just another day while she follows behind you with her N-95 big blue mask covering her face, balding head, steroid puffed out cheeks.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText">Strong is making sure she takes all of her 31 pills a day.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText">Strong is giving her the IV medication and flushing her PICC line twice a day. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText">Strong is washing your hands and cloroxing your house multiple times a day.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText">Strong is giving hugs and saying "Everything will be alright" and trying to believe that.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText">Strong is doing a surreptitious body check every day for signs of GVHD complications.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText">Strong is holding your daughter while she cries.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText">while she feels bad.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText">while life goes on without her.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText">while friends have fun.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText">Damn instagram.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText">Strong is when you have no choice.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText">Strong is the ONLY choice.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText">Michelle Baute, Lexington, Ky<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText">--found in the book <a href="https://tsw.createspace.com/title/5324574"><i>Where Do I Find "God" Stories</i></a>, by Paschal Baute, 2015, CreatSpace..<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div></div></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><div><span>_______________________________________________</span><br><span>Nfbk mailing list</span><br><span><a href="mailto:Nfbk@nfbnet.org">Nfbk@nfbnet.org</a></span><br><span><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbk_nfbnet.org">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbk_nfbnet.org</a></span><br><span>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Nfbk:</span><br><span><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbk_nfbnet.org/melaniepeskoe%40gmail.com">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbk_nfbnet.org/melaniepeskoe%40gmail.com</a></span></div></blockquote></body></html>