The Beauty of Resilience in Its Quietest Form
There is a kind of strength this world doesn’t talk about enough—
the strength it takes to keep showing up when life keeps taking.
The strength to smile when your body is failing.
The strength to love fiercely even in the midst of heartbreak.
This kind of strength doesn’t make headlines.
But it makes legacies.
And recently, I sat in the presence of a quiet courage so profound it left an imprint on my soul.
I want to share that moment with you.
The Bravery of a Fading Voice
An Excerpt from Book 3 – For Such A Time As This: Appointed To Rise
She sat in her new lift chair, her hair freshly curled by the kind-hearted caregiver who’d helped her that morning. Her dress was pretty, and though her voice carried the heavy slur that MSA brings, she still tried to speak. Her words were fading, but her spirit… oh, her spirit was still so bright.
The sun poured through the windows and caught her eyes—those same eyes I’ve known my whole life—and for a fleeting moment, I saw her. All of her. Before the disease, before the slow weakening of her body. There she was—radiant. Whole. She smiled. She laughed. She made jokes and flipped through silly videos on the TV. Even with everything she’s been through, she still finds laughter. I’ve always believed that laughter is a healer, and our family has clung to it—used it to navigate life’s winding road. As she tried to instruct me on what to do with her money when she’s gone, I threw out a joke like I always do: “Oh stop with that foolishness. You’re way too stubborn and nosy to go anywhere any time soon.” And she giggled. That giggle—the cutest, most mischievous little laugh I’ve ever heard. I call it her “evil villain giggle,” like something from a movie. My friend Jon once said, “Even if she loses her voice, they’ll never take the sass out of her.” He’s right.
I sipped my tea and watched her, awestruck by her spirit. And in that quiet moment, I said a soft prayer of thanks—to God for her life, for her love, and for the legacy she is leaving behind. Not loudly. Not on stages. But simply—through her faith, her courage, and her unwavering resilience in the face of heartbreaking adversity. My mother has buried a son, her mother, her father, her brother, and her best friend—all within just a few years. And yet she kept going. She worked part-time, raised children and grandchildren, kept the house in order, the garden tended, and stitched clothes by hand. She was never flashy. She never needed a spotlight. But her quiet strength is what shaped us. Her endurance, her refusal to let bitterness take root, her faith that never wavered—those things became our foundation. And because of her, we carry the mantle now. I see it in my brother as he speaks in Parliament, working tirelessly for his constituents. He hasn’t forgotten where we came from. He often speaks of Dad’s bucket at the AV Nackawic mill and the kind of home we grew up in—not fancy, not high-falutin’, but always full. Full of homemade meals, of values, of grace, grit, and unwavering love. We were never rich. But we were deeply, immeasurably blessed. God is good. Thank you, God. Thank you, Mom. Thank you, Dad. Your faith, your prayers, your resilience—and yes, your giggle and your smile—that is legacy.
REFLECTION — The Strength Inside a Fading Voice
Illness may have softened her speech, but it has never dimmed her power.
Her resilience is louder than any words she speaks.
Her laughter is a rebellion against the darkness.
Her faith is the thread that keeps our family stitched together.
And in her fading voice, I hear something stronger:
Legacy.
Love.
Courage.
Unshakeable hope.
Some heroes don’t wear capes.
They wear lift chairs and hospital bracelets.
They carry their battles in silence.
They smile even as their bodies betray them.
They love until their very last breath.
And still—
she smiles.
DECLARATION — For Those Who Stand Beside the Weary
I choose to honor the quiet heroes.
I choose to see the glory in ordinary courage.
I choose to rise, because she taught me how.
For such a time as this—
I carry her strength.
I continue her faith.
I live her legacy.
Book 3 For Such A Time As This: Appointed To Rise is available on Amazon – https://amzn.to/42LJiL0
