This was a poem on a card to Emilee (from her mother), in which her mom wished her strength to endure. I thought it might be helpful and hopeful. I think of the roots in this poem, as your love...it is strong, deep rooted, and your love will be here as you survive after cancer, or live with cancer, or when cancer takes your body, or that of a loved one

The Oak Tree…. A Message Of Encouragement

A mighty wind blew night and day
It stole the oak tree’s leaves away,
Then snapped its boughs and pulled its bark
Until the oak was tired and stark,
But still the oak tree held its ground
While other trees fell all around.
The weary wind gave up and spoke,
“How can you still be standing, Oak?”
The oak tree said, “I know that you
Can break each branch of mine in two,
Carry every leaf away,
Shake my limbs, and make me sway.
But I have roots stretched in the earth,
Growing stronger since my birth.
You’ll never touch them, for you see,
They are the deepest part of me.
Until today, I wasn’t sure
Of just how much I could endure,
But now I’ve found, with thanks to you,
I’m stronger than I ever knew.”

I hope this gives someone strength to go on, to live, to love, or to let go...to have comfort in knowing that if a loved one has left their body, that they leave a legacy in you, in the earth, in the hearts they touched. Those not here still stand tall in our hearts, and those that ARE alive are worthy of our awe, our encouragement, our touch and our love.