Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 1:2-4

There are few things in this world we can truly count on...The sun rising and setting, socks disappearing in the dryer, and the answer you will get when you ask my Mom, “How are you?”.
While the rest of the world is “fine”, my mom’s response has always been, “I’m terrific everyday of my life”.
Always, no exaggeration …every time. Ask anyone who knows her, and they will tell you the same. For as far back as I can remember, this has been her catch phrase. But not only is it something she always says, it’s also something she always lives…

When I was in high school, I remember the night Mom dropped me off to watch the Varsity Basketball Game. Just as we reached the school, she announces to me, “I have M.S.”
Our car may have been slowing down to a stop, but my mind went into overdrive… Multiple Sclerosis? What? Isn’t that debilitating and even life threatening? What does that mean for our family? I can’t even process that! How am I supposed to get out of this car now? In a single sentence, my whole world had flipped upside-down. In my 16-year-old mind…my mom just told me she was dying.

I often questioned her timing in telling me such heavy news. But now, as a mother of teenagers myself … I get it. She probably tried to tell me multiple times during that car ride. Maybe even for days or weeks leading up to this moment. She may have even made a promise to herself that she would finally say it out-loud before I got out of the car that day. Whatever the case, I understand now what it’s like to share something with your kids that will devastate them. So, while I’m at it, let me add one more thing to the list of things you can count on…there is never a perfect time to deliver difficult news.

While M.S. is a deterioration of muscle over time, my mom is one of the strongest women I know. It’s been 27 years since the day of that fateful drive when I reached some strong conclusions in my finite teen-age brain.
Ironically, instead of watching my mom die, I was blessed to watch her beautifully live. I never once saw her depressed or angry about her M.S. diagnosis. She simply lived a life that said, despite my circumstances I refuse to alter my attitude… I’m Karen Preston and I choose to be terrific everyday of my life. No one can take that from me.

Over the years, I have witnessed her strength in facing disappointments:

• Retiring from the airlines with unlimited free flights, but lacking the physical ability to travel.
• Feeling the weight of eyes on her as she took slow and steady steps down the aisle at both mine and my sister’s Weddings.
• Wanting to do more as a Wife, a Mom and a Grandmother; but constantly feeling the limitations of her body.

In the last 3 decades I have watched my mom’s eyes show brief moments of disappointment, quickly followed by a lingering smile that genuinely states, I am terrific everyday of my life!

The truth is, things didn’t pan out like my 16-year-old self thought they would.  Instead, I watched my parents relationship strengthen as they lived out what it means to Love in sickness and in health.

They made their backyard their favorite vacation spot. Gardening was their favorite past-time. Many-a-Saturday I would look out my bedroom window and see my mom in a wide brimmed hat, sitting in her wheelchair, enjoying the morning sunshine while weeding the flower beds. My dad would be close by, trimming the trees or mowing the lawn. It filled my heart with joy knowing they were in their Happy Place.

As my mom didn’t get out much, she always made herself available to me. Whether it be helping me with teaching projects at the dining room table, dropping the kids off at a moments notice, or just having the time to sit and listen to my life…Mom’s been there.

I love that my Mom’s birthday is January 12th and my little Jeremiah’s birthday is January 13th. These two people, I have been both emotionally and (at one point) physically connected to. Both have changed my world and inspired me greatly to look outside of my circumstances and choose to be terrific everyday of my life!

Update:

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

James 1:12