The Gift Of Curse & Wisdom For A Real Warrior. Poem by Raouf Reda

Life told me once “I am going to give you a tremendous gift.”
“I hope I am worthy of this gift, ” I replied.
Life said that he would inflict me with a disease.
“Disease as a gift? ” I asked. I could not fathom illness as a gift.

“What you do with this gift depends on you, ” he said.
“You can treat it as a curse, or accept it for what it is.
You can lament or make the best of it. It is up to you.
What you do and how you act will prove if you are a Warrior.”

He struck me with Cancer.
Doctor’s said I will die so soon.
But I didn't. I learned to live, walk and run.
I thank God every day.
He taught me not to take life for granted.

He struck me with Cancer again.
Life was pure hell for a few years.
Loss of memory, pain, and deadly operations.
But I got better.

I learned that by helping others with Cancer’
I could help to heal myself.
I learned that helping others is a worthy cause.
I learned I had the strength to keep going
Even when I had no strength left.
I learned that as bad off as I felt there was another
Who was worse off than I who I could help.

I learned that instead of reaching for a helping hand
I had become the hand that was reached for.
Instead of being in the abyss I was on the edge
Helping others out of the void.

Great Life said, “I will take your Beloved ones.”
My heart was poisoned and pained.
Life started to dim and colors were lost.
I was lost; I felt I will never be cured.
But I got better

I learned that even with Pain I was worthy.
I saw with my mind what my eyes could no longer.
I learned that by helping others.
I helped myself.

I am a Warrior. I no longer look at a people the same.
I see what is inside them not the shell of the body.
Instead of seeing a person.
I see a person who was given a gift.
That no one can see, but a real worrior like me.