A prayer for strength

We don't celebrate Thanksgiving here in Germany, although I believe it's an important occasion. It's fundamental to pause for a moment from time to time, to make yourself aware of all of the things we have, but which others lack.

Yes, there are a lot of people in the world who suffer, and besides thinking of all the hungry people and those in war-torn countries, there may be people in your neighbourhood or your circle of acquaintances who suffer, and who might not be able to imagine what they should be thankful for.

I work for a company whose name consists of two letters, one for each of the associate partners, let's name them Mrs A and Mr B.

This is about Mrs A. She is in her fifties, she has always been working, raised three kids (who have their own families now) and had a foster child for some time, too. She was always energetic, she could be moody, she could be short-tempered when provoked, but she was humorous and had and has a heart as big as a whale. She was always respected by everyone.

About five or six years ago, Mrs A was diagnosed with cancer. She had to undergo an emergency operation, lost a kidney and some of her stomach. She underwent countless cycles of chemo therapy and isn't cured yet. Last week, she got a new port catheter.

She kept on working although often cut in by chemo until she couldn't go on any longer. The last times I saw her, she was panting when she had climbed up the stairs to the 2nd floor... She's a shadow of her former self.

This on and off of work caused by her illnes caused Mr B to think Mrs A unreliable. Their relationship cooled down below freezing point, which added not only to the precarious financial situation Mrs A is in, but depressed her even more, as they had been friends once.

Mrs A's husband had a bypass operation several years ago and was diagnosed with cancer about two years ago (I'm not quite sure). It got worse. He's in intensive care now. He's on high doses of morphine. The doctors predict that he won't live to see this year's Christmas.

(Actually, there's even more to add to the calamities. But I'll leave it at that.)

Today, Mrs A called me up at the office to give her belated birthday greetings.

Her voice was very feeble, you could hear that she must have been crying for hours.

She said that her husband was fading away with each day passing. And he knows it.

Sometimes, she said, it seemed like he was okay, but then out of a sudden, all the alarms ring. She spends six or seven hours in the hospital with him every day. And then, she goes back home where she's all alone, not knowing what to do.

She told me she felt so weak that she would love to cuddle in her mother's arms for comfort and consolation. But her mother is an old lady, and miserable, too.

How I wish I could do something for her.

All I can do is listen and offer some words of commiseration, feeling clumsy and unable to help.

I talked to my Granny about the situation and she said that maybe the only thing we can do is pray.

I said, what for? What can they possibly hope for?

And she said: strength.

Please join me in a prayer for strength for all those who are affected by this misery.

Thank you.