Talk about a real gift I was given in my conversation with Sheila K. Collins after reading her book WARRIOR MOTHER!
We have all watched or read about the effects of war on a country. In any struggle there is going to be casualties, collateral damage and the after-effects that can haunt you long after you're in safe territory. For Sheila K. Collins, however, the battles she fought were not on some foreign soil. In WARRIOR MOTHER she allows us to see how the home front can be just as treacherous as any other battlefield.
The book takes you not just into her experiencing the loss of two of her children, but the courage she had to have not just for them but herself as well. We never really know what we can endure until we are put in a situation where all that we know is turned upside down and tested in ways we couldn't have imagined. After dealing with the loss of one of her sons and then the cancer diagnosis of her daughter, Sheila knew she had to remain strong and focused on the moment. That is the lesson I think that sticks with me the most.
She writes this: "Like a prospector panning for gold, with the help of my journal, I have panned and sifted through these experiences: of life, death, and the places in between. I have shaken the sieve in such a way as to uncover the valuable shiny nuggets in these stories, amongst the dirt, pebbles, and other debris.
This sifting and sorting has been, like the experiences themselves, tough at times, but also enlightening.
"Ultimately, I've come to appreciate the many ways that people confront illness, diagnoses and treatment decisions, and yes, even death; the many faces and masks of grief, as well as the precious gifts that come in dreadful-looking packages."
Sometimes we are so involved in life that we forget to enjoy what is. If we can take in all that is going on right now, it will provide us a treasure chest of memories to hold on to and channel when we are feeling lost. Learning how to surrender, Sheila K. Collins gives the reader hope for facing their own war zones in life, allowing them to see that even in loss hope can be found.
The book WARRIOR MOTHER is also a great help to those who find themselves left behind by loved ones. Though grieving is necessary and normal, we have to find the courage to move forward for our loved ones. "I know my grieving process has been strongly affected by remembering how hard both my children fought to stay alive, and all that they were willing to do to gain more life,"Sheila says. "I have never wanted to dishonor them by wasting one moment of whatever precious life I am given."
Listen to my interview with Sheila at www.tinyurl.com/sheilacollinsinterview. Find more about Sheila's courage and message for you at www.sheilakcollins.com.
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