2009 – A New Year

Mary Poppins was the first movie that my mother took me to at the theatre. I loved it. I loved Julie Andrews, too, and always wanted to sing like her (along with Anne Murray). Today, while perusing the Patch Adams website, I came across a quote from Mary Poppins:

    In every job that must be done there is an element of fun; you find that fun and snap, the job's a game.

I thought to myself, "Yes, chemo is a job that must be done, therefore I need to find an element of fun." And when I find that element of fun, snap the job's a game. Big stretch, but is it possible? All things are possible if we believe, right? Talking to my sister Brenda this morning, telling her that I need to change my attitude about chemo and going to the cancer ward next week. She told me to take my 'changed attitude' into the cancer unit; that my good attitude will be the encouragement for others. I thought on that for awhile; that's wisdom. I started to pray (again) about this whole process, not looking forward to it at all, and the idea came to me that chemo could be a friend, instead of an enemy. So, that's what I'm in the process today of thinking about, asking God to help me see the treatment as His form of healing. That when I go in there next week, that I am not afraid, but hopeful that I'm going there to get healed. Chemo and radiation and drugs are for my healing. Pray that I have a change of attitude. That I am a girl of courage, going to Mary Poppins to hear Julie Andrews sing,

In ev'ry job that must be done
There is an element of fun
You find the fun and snap!
The job's a game

[Sung]
And ev'ry task you undertake
Becomes a piece of cake
A lark! A spree! It's very clear to see that

A Spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down
The medicine go down-wown
The medicine go down
Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down
In a most delightful way

A robin feathering his nest
Has very little time to rest
While gathering his bits of twine and twig
Though quite intent in his pursuit
He has a merry tune to toot
He knows a song will move the job along - for

A Spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down
The medicine go down-wown
The medicine go down
Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down
In a most delightful way

[Interlude]

The honey bee that fetch the nectar
From the flowers to the comb
Never tire of ever buzzing to and fro
Because they take a little nip
From ev'ry flower that they sip
And hence (And hence),
They find (They find)
Their task is not a grind. (Spoonful of Sugar)

Being a woman of many songs, this one was a favorite when I was young. So, I'm going to bring it back into my life. May I find that ev'ry task I undertake becomes a piece of cake, a lark, a spree. May I always have a song to move the job along, and find that this task is not a grind, but a blessing.