CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON -- The Moral of the Story

“It is not how much we have done for ourselves that God will one day

ask us, but what we have done to better our brothers’ lot and how much of

the gifts God has given to us we have been willing to share with our

hurting brothers and sisters.”

-- Joseph Girzone

Last Sunday, my husband, daughter and I experienced a small taste of

some of the abundance of unity and community we’ve seen on the East

Coast, across our country and around the world.

Actually, it wasn’t really small at all, as I heard that possibly as

many 40,000 people participated in the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer

Foundation’s Race for the Cure at Fashion Island in Newport Beach.

While I’ve participated in walks and races for different worthy causes

before, I have never experienced the love and spirit that I saw on the

faces and heard from those walking around me. This wasn’t a race of

competition, but a show of compassion.

Jon, Kelly and I walked from our house because we live nearby and

thought that parking would be difficult. It wasn’t long before we saw

long lines of cars pouring into Fashion Island from every direction.

I’ve seen plenty of traffic in my life, but there was something

different that morning. Nobody honked or hurried. I watched in amazement

as a row of cars waited patiently for a driver who stopped his car and

ran back to retrieve an American flag.

As we got closer, we passed one friendly policeman or volunteer after

another. As we joined the ocean of people near the starting line, I was

overwhelmed by the waves of love and encouragement that flowed from one

person to the other. People were there to race for the cure and to show

they cared.

While it was clearly an amazing celebration, it was a solemn occasion

as well. While many celebrated and honored cancer survivors, many were

also there in memory of loved ones. You could not see the pictures or

hear the stories of loss without feeling it yourself. I think everybody

alternated between clapping and crying as we wove through the streets.

We were there to honor and encourage everybody, but we walked as a

group for our friend Kathy.

“I was amazed, surprised and touched by the community support,” Kathy

said. “I was especially surprised by how many children and teenagers

came. It felt like extended family.”

Kathy has inspired all of us with her attitude and her faith.

“I have never been bitter, or said, ‘Why me?”’ she explained. “It’s

thanks to God and all the prayers. I just pray that everyone would find

God and feel his peace and hope.

“It was amazing to see all that everybody did to make the morning so

special,” my daughter Kelly said. “We’d yell and clap for the singers,

who then cheered for the walkers and runners. It showed that people

really care, and that there are so many ways to help meet each others’

needs. We couldn’t help Kathy medically, but we could with our prayers

and with our presence. Hopefully we helped. She means so much to so

many.”

I think we are all learning that the things that matter most in life,

aren’t things at all.

And you can quote me on that.

* CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON is a Newport Beach resident who speaks

frequently to parenting groups. She may be reached via e-mail at o7

cindy@onthegrow.comf7 or through the mail at P.O. Box 6140-No. 505,

Newport Beach, CA 92658.