A Dose of Perspective

I didn't pick a #oneword for 2017.  

I'm gonna give it a go again this year.  My word this year stems in part from my 2016 word and an event that has recently transpired in my life. 

My word this year is "perspective."

My son was diagnosed with Crohn's disease during his eighth-grade year.  You probably didn't know that.  He doesn't share that too often.  From what I understand, a lot of Crohn's patients don't openly share about their disease. I completely understand. 

As I compose this blog post I am sitting in the hospital with my son as he recovers from surgery that was needed because of his Crohn's disease.  We are on day 4 of recovery.  It's a hell of a lot better than day 1.  Day by day he is getting better.  

Watching my first child work through this whole process has been a challenge. If you are a parent, you know that there's an instinct we all have that makes us want to protect and help our child in their times of need.   

There's not much I can do right now as a Dad.  

I try to offer words of encouragement.  

I lend a hand when getting out of bed or walking down the hallway.  That's about all I can do. 

Since my son's diagnosis four years ago, he has never complained about having Crohn's disease.  It's a battle he will fight the rest of his life. 

He has never complained.  Not once.   

Since being in the hospital (Dec 21-24 and Jan 3-later this week) my son has not complained once.  

I would have.  A lot. 

I've learned a lot from my seventeen-year-old son throughout this whole process.  

Most importantly, he's taught me a lot about perspective.  From time to time I may gripe and complain about mundane things.  Why?  Because it's easy.  I needed better perspective in my life.  I have it now. 

My son has taught me to look at things a bit differently than I have the last 45 years. 

I am looking forward to jumping head first into in 2018 with a new perspective.