Many people go through the day without experiencing authentic relationships. When people participate in small groups they often find that wealth of possibility. Sometimes the ability for authentic relationships comes in surprising places. Such was the case when I took my daughter to a class called Kids Kicking Cancer. The class is a martial arts class for kids who have/had cancer and for kids whose lives have been touched by cancer. I thought I would just show up, watch the class and go home. Boy, was I wrong. Suddenly in the midst of this place of calm and hope (The Michigan Wellness Center) I was draw into the fabric of lives touched by cancer.
I did watch the class for a while but when a young girl age 6 started singing the song she sings to her port, I just melted away. For the fortunately uninitiated, the port is where chemo patients receive their drugs. Apparently the custom is for kids to give their ports a name and then talk about giving Pete or Eddie (the port) a drink (the chemo). Well this little girl went a step beyond and made up a song. Still being quite emotional from my own treatment, I left the kids area and went to talk to the parents. Here we were, a group of moms who have never met suddenly sharing at a level many people never achieve in a lifetime. It was beautiful.
I'm not sure why my daughter likes this class so much. She is older than the other kids and she is the one kid in the class who has never had cancer but she loves it. For that I am thankful.
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