The greatest gift of all: Life

With its emphasis on the material, the holiday season can be so superficial. Don’t misunderstand, I’m all for gift-giving. But for me, it’s the thought – the meaning – that counts. This year, perhaps it’s time to ponder the greatest gift of all…

This time around, the gift is all about a gift. And I believe it’s the greatest one of all – life.

For you…

Take it from someone who knows

This past January, a radio personality was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer. He shared his circumstances on the air not long after his diagnosis. And he continued doing his show, in spite of having to miss airtime because of treatment.

The man announced in October that interventions hadn’t slowed the cancer. He went on to say his diagnosis was terminal. Though given a time frame as to when he should expect to die, he didn’t share it.

For him, life could have become a macabre waiting game.

I happened upon a transcript of a portion of his December 15th show. What he said deeply touched me, and I’d like to share pieces of it with you. The italics are on me…

A great day to be back, folks. Thank you so much. I apologize for being out. I remember mentioning at the very beginning of this that there were going to be random days where I would just need to take off. And the last couple have been in that category. I had some medical challenges, but that was to be expected, dealing with them.

The greatest gift of all: Life

Every day remains a gift. You know, I wake up every morning, and I thank God that I did. And there will probably be, down the road, similar type days where I will need to take a day for rest or for whatever medical challenges present themselves. But the fact that I’m able to get back here and be with you is a genuine blessing, and I appreciate it and I appreciate your understanding throughout all of this.

As we say, everything’s day-to-day, and especially in the circumstances I find myself in. Everything is day-to-day. And you strive to make every day the best it can be. And that’s exactly what I’m doing. So I appreciate your understanding and your patience.

Again, just wanted to remind everybody that there are gonna’ be days where I’m not gonna’ be able to get in, and I mentioned that at the very outset of this back in January and February. And as time goes on, there are medical challenges that present themselves and that have to be dealt with and some of them, you know, pop up as a surprise. Some of them are predictable.

But I continue to look at this and live this as a day-to-day proposition. You know, I’ve said it enough times, it becomes a cliché, that I wake up every morning and thank God that I did. But, you know, it’s not a cliché. It absolutely happens to be the truth.

And so the bottom line is that every day is a gift. And even on those days where I’m not able to get here, realize that I wish I could be. And that when those days occur, that I will do what I can to get back as quickly as possible.

Every day remains a gift

Though he has no idea as to when, or exactly how, it’ll go down, this man knows he’s going to die very shortly. Yet, on he goes with his life as best he can, doing what means so much to him – being with his listeners. 

Think about it, instead of bitterly checking-out, he’s bringing forth words of great encouragement and inspiration. I’ll repeat…

Every day remains a gift. You know, I wake up every morning, and I thank God that I did.

Everything is day-to-day. And you strive to make every day the best it can be.

I don’t know what to make of a person of such courage, wisdom, and grace. I mean, I would hope I’d have the same take, and behave likewise, were I in his shoes. But would I?

If you ask me, and I’ll bet him, this isn’t sad. The man was given a supernatural gift, which he passed-on to me. Now I’m giving it to you.

It’s the greatest gift of all – life. And like the man said, we need to strive to make every day the best it can be.

After all, every day remains a gift.

Happy Holidays, One and All…