Choosing Joy

At Thanksgiving years ago, my mother-in-law gathered the women in our family into a circle and shared a message she hoped we would never forget. After bravely enduring breast cancer treatment herself, she wanted us to understand that this disease could touch any family. A few weeks ago, I learned that it had touched ours again, and this time, it was me. Yet when I think about my future, I don't think about cancer. I think about love. I think about family dinners, laughter, celebrations, and one day holding my grandchildren in my arms. I think about all the beautiful moments still waiting to be lived. My mother-in-law showed me that strength doesn't always roar. Sometimes it looks like grace, kindness, and choosing joy despite uncertainty. That is how I hope to walk this path: with faith, gratitude, and a heart focused on the life still ahead.