THE SONG REMAINS

THE SONG REMAIN

When I was a little girl, I learned to sing. Singing just seemed to be part of me. I sang when I was happy. I sang when I was sad. And I sang when I was frightened. At nights, when I was often frightened, in my bed, I would sing. Singing took the fear away. It seemed to ward off anything that could possibly hurt me.

My happiest days were spent at my grandparents’ farm, and always, I would wake up singing. Singing with the birds. I would lie in bed singing at the top of my voice.

Little did I know then that one day I would be unable to physically sing. But that is the case today. Not only can I not sing, but I cannot see. I am now blind, following a serious and advanced cancer that took my ability to walk also. There was a time, during the period when I had cancer, when not only could I not sing, but I could not speak. It was impossible for me to string words together. Yet here I am today, and I can both talk, and write. The ability to string words together has come back.

I had a date on December 24th. 2013. A date with a friend in America, to sing the well known Carol, “Silent Night” to her over the telephone. I had not yet finished my chemotherapy, but it was my dearest wish to be able to sing on that holiest of nights. And I did. Croakily, but I did.

My voice has never come back properly, but in my heart a song remains. A song that I sing whatever happens to me. It is a song that I would like to leave behind me, should I pass away. The Song of Jesus and His Mother, Mary, saying, “I love you. Be strong. Do not fear, for I am with you. I have overcome the world.”