The School of Life

Sometimes, I have rough days.  Sometimes, I have rough weeks, and sometimes, thankfully not often-times, I have *really* rough days...or weeks.  I don't know why I am that way, but I can usually recognize it as it comes on, and mostly, I can ward it off.  I've schooled myself to think positively...I trained my mind to stop and reprogram when it derails.  But sometimes, just sometimes....that darkness gets a hold of me before I realize what's happened, and it takes a minute for me to recognize it, and another minute for it to let go of me.

Yesterday, I didn't get out of bed.  I literally sat in the corner, stared, thought of what I should do, and then went back to sleep, woke, tried to read, couldn't, stared, willing myself to think of something, anything, that I wanted to do, but I came up short-handed.  Today was not a better day, except I had to get myself up and go to work and go through the motions of the day.  I had to smile.  I had to say hello.  I had to help people.  I had to mask that darkness with a sunny wrapper.  It was hard.  Really hard.

Tonight, I have come through the darkness, hopefully for "good" this time it's gotten its grips on me, and it is due to a real-life hero I have; one who has led me out of the darkness on many the occasion...the one person in this entire world who has every ounce of respect I've ever been able to muster.  A person wise beyond their years.  A person who has ministered to more than they can count, who isn't done yet, who is bound for greatness...the next Mother Teresa, if you will, or Nelson Mandela, or Einstein, or Gandhi...this person is there, on that level of greatness.  The funny thing is that this person has no clue the lives that have been touched, the thoughts that have changed the minds of those they have shared with, the actions of love that have made an everlasting difference on uncountable fingers and toes.  They have no idea.  Their mild, caring manner, the love in their eyes, the tenderness with which they handle the feelings and hearts of those around them, the humility and solidness of character that they are blessed with, and work towards each and every day.  This person is the epitome of patience, of love, of solidarity, or peace, of greatness, of maturity, and I am blessed beyond measure to know them.  

This evening, as I lay down and say my prayers, I will count my blessings, not my "curses", and I will remain thankful for every situation, every experience, and every encounter with every person I've dealt with in this lifetime, for it has made me be a better human, and I will ask God that I am able to share of myself in the manner that this hero shared with me, so as to help my fellow person be able to rest peacefully as they lay their head upon their pillow at the end of this day.