Twenty-one years ago, I learned the importance of three little words, NEVER GIVE UP! I hope I Instill these three little words in your hearts and souls today. In so doing also tell you a little more about myself.
After ten years of marriage, and two miscarriages early on, my husband and I had resigned ourselves to the fact that we probably would not have any children. But low and behold we were blessed with not one but
two beautiful babies. When my daughters were born a full two months premature, my pediatrician told us not to set our hearts on them because they were too small and underdeveloped. I never gave up then and six
weeks later, my beautiful babies were taken home healthy and thriving.
In the last seven years, I have had more heartbreak and more reason to give up, than maybe, anyone in this room. My father tripped and fell, and had cerebral hemorrhage. He never woke up. My brother was
on his last vacation in Hawaii, and he drowned in two feet of water with many people around him. He was snorkeling and breathed wrong, and the water went into his lungs. Two years ago on January 3, 1992, I was diagnosed
with cancer of the lymph nodes and I literally, spent a year of pure hell. At times I wondered if the cure wasn�t worst than the disease. If I had given up, I might not now be standing in front of you today. What
gave me the courage to face what I had to face, my faith in God, the love and support of my family and friends, some of whom are here today. More recently, a couple of months ago, my fourteen year old niece committed
suicide. She gave up, and she had so much to live for. She was a 4.0 student and could have been anything she wanted to be. As a member of a cancer support group, I have seen patients give up, and die shortly after.
Why am I telling you this? Because we are in difficult times, and sometimes it is so easy to give up. It took cancer to change my priorities. Money is not so important to me anymore. I live one day at a time and
today, I take the time to smell the roses. I know there will be more rough days ahead, but with my faith in God, my friends and family, I will survive. In the days and months ahead, I want you to remember what I have
said to you today, and that you can face any trial with faith, courage, and love, NEVER, NEVER, GIVE UP!
