Mary Jo Update #3 ~ What is the meaning of melancholy?

Many powerful emotions this evening at the outset of our Odyssey at Vanderbilt.

First, there was joy as we watched the victory celebration at the Yum Center for the University of Louisville men's and women's basketball teams.

Then there was sadness as we said goodbye to our three grandkids, whom we have helped with for the last several years, and their Mom.

Then there was apprehension as we begin this stem cell transplant process in a city over two hours away from home.

Then there was anxiety about just wanting to get past all of this, and get our lives back to normal again.

Then there was hope in this stem cell transplant process. That through it, we will acheive the goal that we are so anxious about.

Then there was comfort knowing that all of our friends, family and people we've never met are thinking about us, and supporting us with their prayers.

Then there was faith in the power of prayer, and the boundless love, grace and mercy of Almighty God, through whom all things are possible.

Mary Jo was helping our grandson, Dylan, with his homework tonight. He was memorizing his spelling words which all had to do with emotions. After he had finished studying them, he had to write a sentence using each word. One of the words was "melancholy". Dylan wrote the following: "I am melancholy because my Grandma has cancer."

That says it all.

Quite an emotional evening for thoughtful reflection.

Melancholy

1. Affected with or marked by depression of the spirits; sad.

2. Tending to promote sadness or gloom: a letter with some melancholy news.

3. Pensive; thoughtful.