Have you ever tried to dislodge a stubborn shrub?
I have, and it wasn’t pretty.
All disheveled, sweaty, and dirty, I strangled, yanked and cranked on those unruly, bedraggled branches, but to no avail.
It was a hot summer morning, and I only had a few minutes until the garbage service would arrive with its customary brevity. I could hear the truck clanking and whirring one street away.
So I dug harder,
anchored my legs,
stretched like a rock climber inches from the ledge.
The next thing I knew, a stocky guy with a big smile was standing at the curb by the garbage truck.
“Lady, I don’t know what you’re trying to do, but whatever it is, you want it real bad.”
“I hate this shrub, and you’re right. I want it gone real bad.”
“Okay.”
Much to my surprise, in less than a minute that muscle-packed dude was carrying my stubborn shrub, roots and all, to its final demise.
Bless his heart.
During treatment, we’ve got to treat cancer like that unruly old shrub. Whatever it takes. We have to want it gone “real bad.”
We might have to dig harder,
anchor stronger,
stretch longer,
and get a lot of help.
But when it’s all said and done, cancer is garbage and deserves its demise.
— by Marianne McDonough
Copyright © 2016 Marianne McDonough