My mother rsquo s shiny red cross should have been hanging next to her bed at the cancer care center And I should have been preparing for holiday visits between her scheduled treatments All I wanted for Christmas was another day with my mom Instead I was home hanging her cross on a fake tree When my son Xavier plugged in the lights I whispered ldquo Thank You rdquo He said ldquo You rsquo re welcome rdquo My son didn rsquo t know I was thanking God for using the flickering bulbs to turn my eyes toward the ever-enduring Light [... more]

I arrived at the cancer care center where I rsquo d be serving as my mom rsquo s live-in caregiver feeling alone and afraid I rsquo d left my family and support system more than miles behind me But before I could even touch my luggage a man with a huge grin offered to help By the time we reached the sixth floor I rsquo d made plans to meet Frank rsquo s wife Lori who cared for him during his treatments The couple soon became like family as we leaned on God and each other We laughed vented cried [... more]