Almost 20 years ago my husband, Jim, was paralyzed in an accident. As the months went by and he fought to regain his ability to walk and use his hands, a community of differently-abled people became our friends.
Hungry for information, we searched online for websites that might show us better ways to live what might be Jim's new life in a wheelchair. There weren't any such sites. As a former newspaper person, I knew the five million wheelchair users in the U.S. would welcome a site about and for them and within the year, I started a site called People On Wheels.
Culling through world-wide news every day to populate the website was a huge job and when the work became more than I could handle, Starr Velez appeared. She was an Army veteran and former mid-level executive who was struck with multiple sclerosis in the prime of her life. Within months she could no longer work, was unable to walk, and had to use a wheelchair. Starr overwhelmed me with her attitude, abilities, and humor. She never seemed to feel sorry for herself, even when treatments left her tired and in pain. Today she lives in Florida with her husband, Angel, (yes, Angel) and as always, she sent me a Christmas Card
While the rest of the world (including me) groused in their holiday missives about the terrible year we've had, Starr wrote: "We have so much to be grateful for our Savior and family, Spirit and hope. We are happy, we are well. Most of all we are blessed. We have everything and everyone we need. We are rich, maybe not in dollars, but in much more."
I know very well the pain and difficulty Starr endures. I know the never-ending self-sacrifice required by her husband. Yet, in spite of monumental challenges, Starr feels blessed. But for most of us, the challenge is to feel and see the blessings that we have. Petty irritations can ruin our day or week. People with different opinions make us crazy. Challenges frustrate us. We get cranky and even depressed. While some easily follow the Biblical admonition to "Give thanks in all circumstances," I fall continually short. I just keep thinking if Starr can do it, I can too—and you, maybe you can too. No matter what we face in this year ahead, let's make a pact to give thanks in all circumstances, to let doors close, knowing others will open, to see the best in everyone, to love and hug and overcome together.
Whenever I see Reverend Gene Potter, whose trainees at New Life Development Ministries renovated our UNITE INDY space, I always ask, "How are you?" Every single time he answers the very same way."Thankful, always thankful."
Like that. That's how we'll do it,
Nancy
