Counting the Omer: Day 44
by Ginger Jacobs
Counting the Omer helps us focus on each day and what we can learn from it. I remember one specific day that taught me a great life lesson.
34 years ago, I had breast cancer. During my radiation therapy, a friend came to visit and help out, which I really needed. I woke up in the morning, went to work, left early for my radiation therapy, came home and prepared dinner, cleaned up from dinner and then absolutely crashed, no energy at all was left. The next morning I woke up and did it again and again and again.
My friend witnessed my “obsession” with my cancer and treatments. One day, she said to my “My wish for you is that someday petty things again become important.”
While I knew what she meant, that the cancer was behind me enough that I could now focus on life and go back to the time when “petty things became important”. In the few moments after that, I realized that I never wanted to go back to petty things being important.
I wanted to focus on the good things, to be able to appreciate all the wonders around me. I didn’t want to worry about how great or awful something is. I wanted to be the best person I could be. I would recognize the petty things, acknowledge that they existed and then put them behind me. There were too many wonderful things to contemplate, my children, my dogs, my moving forward.
Cancer is behind me but I try to always remember the lessons it taught me. I am strong. I can really appreciate all the blessings surrounding me. I am not alone, I have an incredible support system.
Now, as I watch my grandchildren grow and see how busy their parents are, I wonder if they even have time to worry about petty things. I sure hope not.
Counting the Omer helps us focus on each day and what we can learn from it. We look forward to the ending of the counting, on Shavuot, when we celebrate the receiving of the Torah.
