Gosh I used to HATE it when my mom would try to encourage me with this perspective-enhancing adage when I was reeling from something bad I was facing as a kid. Now I am clinging to it like a half-inflated raft in the midst of tumultuous rapids. Peaceful stretches of river, then out of the blue, turbulent white water! Yesterday my nose barely broke the surface of the strangling water as I struggled for some comfort. Nausea, vomiting, dizziness, mush brain and every cell in my body felt like it had been drained dry of any evidence of life. I would have despaired completely if I hadn’t had a marvelous stretch with You Lord, the day before. Sunshine that kissed my face. Legs that held me up for a legitimate promenade with Roo. Hugs from long-separated friends. And a geyser of hope that recharged my belief that someday I will be able reclaim my life… and it will feel great again! Today is queasy but at least I am upright, not chained to horizontal. My face looks shell-shocked and my heart is racing with the adrenaline from such a ballistic onslaught, but the good news is I have dropped 16 lbs of water weight since Friday, my blood pressure is stabilizing and my brain is fighting off the fog! God, keep giving me those stretches of smooth river, peaceful reprieve, so I can catch my breath enough to survive the raging waters that toss me around like a limp rag. There is hope ahead. “This too shall pass…”