Spiritual Enlightenment Now - http://www.spiritualnow.com
Courage, Strength and Love Bring Joy
http://www.spiritualnow.com/articles/404/1/Courage-Strength-and-Love-Bring-Joy/Page1.html
James Yoakum
%%GLOBAL_AuthorName%%
Jim Yoakum is an accomplished business leader with over 25 years of experience. However, his many life's experience are the foundation of his soul. Jim shares his soul and the experiences that have touched it through writings, poetry and talks. In his desire to learn and grow, Jim likes to share, educate and give back to others. His writing and talks are a result of those goals for interpersonal growth and for sharing with others.  
By James Yoakum
Published on 09/12/2009
 
My father was diagnosed with ALS, also called Lou Gehrig’s disease, in March of 2003. To manage my grieving, I started writing poetry. As time passed, the grieving through poetry, turned to joy as we began to celebrate his life, instead of grieving his pending death. This is one poem from a collection on his illness and joy for living despite knowing the end was always near.
Courage, Strength and Love Bring Joy

Courage, Strength and Love Bring Joy

Courage, strength and love! Joy!

While news of a pending death no doubt brings sorrow,

After initial grieving, joy can survive!

My father is dying a slow and painful death,

Having been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

While the doctor gave him only two years to live

He has turned that two years into a lifetime.

Courage, strength and love! Joy!

He has rekindled relationships with many, including me, his son.

We had grown apart as I became an adult, started a career,

And had a family, all six hundred miles away.

But now my heart is closer,

Courage, strength and love! Joy!

While I grieve for all the years we lost,

He acts with courage, strength and love.

We visit, we talk, we travel, we cry.

His courage, his strength to see beyond the disease, the pain,

And the shortness of time, gave me a lesson like no other in life.

Today, I have his courage, his strength and his love,

But more important, he has my love.

And I devote the rest of his days and my life to living his joy.

And as his life nears his end,

He will go to God knowing he blessed me and loved me.

And that he was loved by many, including his son.

Courage, strength and love brings joy!