Living the Dream

"Sociologists tell us the most introverted of people will influence 10,000 others in an average lifetime." Tim Elmore

I think about this statement all the time whenever I meet someone who is "living the dream" of the average life. They have a job, own a house, they have two kids and a dog and maybe a boat, but today I thought about one such person who is much too young to experience much of this dream life. Even though this boy is young, energetic and full of life, the final chapters of his story are being read and the last page is about to be turned. While many people who live to be in their 70's influence 10, 15 or even 20 thousand people, this 13 year old fighting a monster called childhood cancer is impacting hundreds of thousands of people. Its very hard to put into perspective because no one imagines influencing so many people unless they are considered some kind of leader. As I think about a father's son who just became a teen, and a mother who was already worrying about handing him the car keys in just a few years, its nearly impossible to see how such an amazing young man should be able to reach the world with his story.

 

When a child has fought long, surviving diagnosis, relapse and enduring pain beyond their years, their journey of "living the dream while enduring the nightmare" becomes abundant with life. Its bittersweet to think about the legacy of someone so young, but that is the problem childhood cancer faces as it attempts to boast of its power and strength. It doesn't take a college degree, working in the corporate world and making a million dollars a year to begin influencing people, it takes courage, faith and hope that this life will be significant regardless of how long it lasts. Childhood Cancer is so limited and even though children's lives have been limited because of cancer, an influential life is a matter of perspective.

Please keep sharing The Truth 365 YouTube videos
http://www.facebook.com/theTruth365film
and The Petition http://www.thetruth365.org/petition/ 
on facebook, twitter and your blogs
because the Children of Cancer are about to get the attention of more people than Taylor Swift.

Send Lane Goodwin your best @ http://www.facebook.com/PrayersforLaneGoodwin

picture by Jordan Smith

Brian G. Jones @ http://www.facebook.com/briansphirstblog

The Pink Lady

There is some buzz going on right now on the internet because of some parents who stood up and spoke out in regards to breast cancer and childhood cancer after losing their child this year. As most people are quickly becoming aware, September IS Childhood cancer awareness month, not breast cancer. If someone were to guess when breast cancer awareness is, they may say September, October, or they just may say all year long. The truth is October is breast cancer awareness month, and for that I am grateful since I know 3 people very close who have survived it. So why all the buzz? Probably because most parents with children suffering from breast cancer become frustrated that Pink starts to show up before October begins. When we, who have children fighting for their lives because pediatric cancer research is significantly under funded and people are unaware, are trying for just 30 days to raise awareness for our kids, the Pink lady begins to overshadow our only Golden opportunity. I personally think its more about the third parties, like grocery stores, news channels, and even the NFL, making more profits by turning peoples eyes toward all of the pink.

http://www.facebook.com/speakuptosilencecancer
Childhood cancer needs a voice and it can't just happen with a few. If all of the women who are surviving breast cancer got behind childhood cancer in the same way they supported their own billion dollar cause, how much of an impact would that make on the childhood cancer community? I know everyone hurts because of cancer, but you can't tell me that losing a child is easier than losing a friend, mom, or sister. Ask anyone who has ever lost a child to anything.

This E-card make a very strong point, that many understand, but many more won't accept because breast cancer has hurt them personally. I think we just need to remember everyone, and give them all a fair chance a life, but considering the funding given to BC, Childhood cancer deserves a whole lot better.

Feel free to comment on the Facebook comments to the right.