IF YOU TRULY TRY, THEN THAT'S ENOUGH

        

So, after sitting for some time,once again looking for inspiration to pour out of my computer screen, I decided it wasn't happening and I was ready to go without a blog post this week. Within one minute of this thought and decision, the above quote appeared on Google plus. Some might say its coincidence, others divine intervention. Me I think its a kick in the butt to keep trying.

Now if the husband was here he would say I'm very "trying", so I just want to make it quite clear that the trying I am talking about has to do with effort and "carrying on" , not the one where someone is gritting their teeth at you in exasperation.

As I type, my FED (favourite eldest daughter) is sitting a university statistics exam. This is an important exam, because it is a compulsory unit and therefore can not be swapped out of. There is no way out of this except forward, which is a problem if you're not mathematically inclined and it all feels like mumbo jumbo. I know that Ashton has been very worried about this exam and has done her best to prepare for it, even deactivating her facebook account to minimise disruptions!

So, once you've done  your best to prepare, all you can do is get into the exam and give it a " red hot go". Try as hard as you can! Do your best and when its over walk out!

That is all anyone can expect of you - try your best! That doesn't always equate with success but it allows you to look yourself in the eye (use a mirror for best results) and say " I couldn't have done anything more. I tried my hardest". "After event" guilt only sets in when you know you haven't tried your hardest and that you haven't used the potential you have. That's my theory anyway and I'm sticking to it.

By the time my daughter reads this post, it will be all over and life will go on. That's a definite. Pass or fail, life goes on and sometimes it just needs to be all put into perspective. Tomorrow will come, the day after will too. When you've given your all, if its meant to be, it will be. Otherwise its a fork in the road and we change direction.

I hope not, because she loves this course apart from this one unit! Come on Ashton, you can do it!

I had a similar experience in my university years. I was studying to be a dentist (I think I've written about that before), but found the practical work to be too challenging. Looking back that's about the time my hand tremor was starting off. I tried my hardest but it wasn't to be. Two weeks after most people had completed their practical work, I was still sitting there and I snapped. Enough was enough. Effort does not always equate with success and that is a big life lesson to learn. Was I disappointed? Of course. But I had arrived at a fork in the road and had to change direction. Some things are not meant to be.

“Defeat is not the worst of failures. Not to have tried is the true failure.”
― George E. Woodberry

Another "trying" event is taking place this Friday, when Ashton's medical team once again attempt to remove the fistula from her neck and to make sure that the place were the one in the brain was, is still behaving. For those who are new to our story, Ashton has had two serious AVM's ( arteriovenous malformations), which doctors have been trying (there's that word again) to tame for almost two years. This is a serious condition and one which has tried to control our lives for two years now.

My daughter is strong and feisty and she will beat this. At the very least she will get to a stage where it is manageable.

The last time Ashton had surgery, I asked for a circle of prayers worldwide. It gave me comfort to know that the arms of prayer were encircled around my daughter.  Could I please ask for this again this Friday 12th June? Please at some time during the day thank the good Lord for what he has done for us so far and for blessings on Ashton's doctors to further their work. Her father, sister and I together with our extended family would really appreciate this.

If you could just leave your country in the comments, I will enjoy telling Ashton how far and wide her prayer circle has extended.

Thank you in advance and may God bless you all xx

Till next time...xxx