Trinket in the Jewelry Box

Last night our son was going through my jewelry box. He’s a precocious, I think adorable, 9 year-old.  He says to me, “Mom, if we need money we could always sell your jewelry.”   It unnerved me his concern over money and then I realized he had been overhearing the conversations my husband and I had been having lately about health insurance and growing medical costs and our concerns about medical debt.

As my son sorted through my jewelry he came upon a coin that grabbed his interest.  It was an inspirational piece you might find in a gift shop or stationery store.  He paused to read the inscription.  Looking at me he said, “Mom, where did you get this?”  I couldn’t recall – something that seems to be happening more and more frequently as of late.  “Will you read what it says and maybe I’ll remember?”

In his sweet, angelic voice he read one side of the coin, “Cancer”, then he turned it over and continued, “Cannot defeat the soul, cannot shatter hope, cannot depress faith, cannot destroy homes, cannot limit humanity, cannot kill friendships, cannot silence courage, cannot ruin the soul, cannot reduce the spirit, can be overcome …”

I took a deep breath and looked at him.  His eyes were wide, bright and he had a smile on his face that cut straight through to my heart.  I could tell he was pleased with himself.  He had touched his mom and he knew it.  This is a child who has only known his father to have cancer.  He has never experienced a day, in his short life, without his dad either being extremely fatigued or physically ill from cancer or its treatments.   At his tender young age he knows the fragility of life and yet his smile comes from a place of pure joy and happiness.

I wrapped my arms around him, buried my face in his thick hair, and mindfully held onto the feeling of calmness that came over me.  It’s these simple moments that bring everything full circle.  It is true.  Cancer can be overcome.

Copyright © 2011 Jeannie Moloo. All Rights Reserved.