Lessons in forgiveness from Elizabeth Edwards
(Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Elizabeth Edwards stood by her husband during both of his campaign attempts to secure a position in the White House. During the last few days of his vice presidential campaign, she received the dreaded diagnosis of breast cancer. Elizabeth supported her husband’s next bid for office despite her ailing body but he lost the Democratic nomination to Barack Obama.
When she knew her end was near, (it was reported that the cancer had spread to her liver this past Monday), she wrote a note on Facebook explaining, she has “been sustained throughout my life by three saving graces – my family, my friends, and a faith in the power of resilience and hope.” She goes on to say “the days of our lives, for all of us, are numbered.” And then she adds, “It isn’t possible to put into words the love and gratitude I feel towards everyone who has and continues to support and inspire me every day.”
Are you appreciating your family, friends and harboring a sense of hope, resilience and gratitude? If not, what is stopping you?
Elizabeth Edwards has certainly endured her own share of suffering. Her beloved husband, the man she stood by and encouraged for so many years, fathered a child with another woman. It doesn’t get much more painful than that. And then she had to stand proud, facing the press and all those embarrassing and humiliating questions and comments.
Elizabeth Edwards showed her elegance through a quality of enduring strength, resilience and forgiveness. In her final hours, she shared those moments with her husband, John Edwards, her three children, her sibling and some friends. She apparently had found the strength within to forgive her husband for his indiscretions and to include him in her final moments of love.
When someone we love is dying, all we can feel is the love that has always been present. Her strength and resilience is an inspiration to all of us. Find a way to feel the love NOW!
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December 8th, 2010 at 10:00 am
Hi Erica,
Thanks for this post. Elizabeth Edwards demonstrated true grace under pressure. Certainly she endured more than most women in similar circumstances because her challenges played out on a much bigger stage . . . aided by the world press. As a fellow Tarheel, I’m proud of her for her accomplishments, hard work, love of family and friends. While I didn’t always agree with her politics, I admired her for speaking out about her personal health issues. She helped inspire and support many women who are suffering with breast cancer. Also, she was not afraid to address issues regarding her marriage and her family . . . and to defend herself when necessary. She was a real life “Steel Magnolia”.
God bless you Elizabeth and rest in peace.
Susan Redmon recently posted..Jim Rohn- Evaluating Your Associations Part I
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Dr. Erica Goodstone Reply:
December 8th, 2010 at 3:09 pm
Susan,
What a lovely comment. I never heard the word “Tarheel” before but it is quite descriptive. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Warmly,
Erica
Dr. Erica Goodstone recently posted..Lessons in forgiveness from Elizabeth Edwards
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Dr. Goodstone Reply:
January 25th, 2011 at 1:46 am
Susan,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I just completed an inspiring weekend called “Release” organized by Ellie Drake from Braveheart Women. Her goal and her work is to inspire women to come into their own feminine “Oxytocin” power. Elizabeth Edwards was a role model for many of us.
Erica
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December 9th, 2010 at 12:38 pm
Hello Erica,
Thanks for sharing this post about an incredible woman. Elizabeth Edwards displayed such strength, courage and compassion and we certainly can all learn from her.
Go out and make it a great day!
Lloyd Dobson
Lloyd Dobson recently posted..Why a Home Based Business The Truth About a Home Based Business
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Dr. Goodstone Reply:
December 10th, 2010 at 4:33 am
For me, what stands out, is her acceptance of the journey of life. It appears that she was able to show forgiveness at the end since she shared her final hours with her family, including her estranged husband.
Erica
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December 9th, 2010 at 1:31 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Karin Boode, Rita Oates. Rita Oates said: RT @KarinBoode: Lessons in forgiveness from Elizabeth Edwards – http://bit.ly/eaMsiE [...]
December 10th, 2010 at 7:16 pm
Elizabeth Edwards indeed showed strength, resilience and forgiveness. What a blessing to see such a model of grace ~ I think if you are in the public eye, you have a rare opportunity to be a shining light for all the other people out there fighting. In the past 2 years, my mom battled stage 3 breast cancer and ovarian cancer, and is now a survivor. Her friends, our family and faith without a doubt allowed her to fight with grace. While I am beyond grateful for my mom to be in good health now, I am heartbroken that a woman like Elizabeth Edwards lost the battle. So true that it is critically important to find and feel the love NOW. You never know when will be your last moment with a loved one. Thanks for the reflection, Erica.
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Dr. Goodstone Reply:
December 10th, 2010 at 9:34 pm
Beth, What wonderful news that your mom is a survivor. So true that friends, family, faith and love are the true healers. We really do have to find and feel the love now (not always so easy to remember in our stressed out world).
Erica
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January 9th, 2011 at 8:08 pm
Elizabeth Edwards showed amazing grace in what was such an awful thing she endured in the public eye while battling for her life.I admired her for the way she handled it all.I am sure God Blessed her when she arrived at heavens door.Thanks for sharing.
Beverly Monical recently posted..Why Do You Work From Home
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Dr. Erica Goodstone Reply:
January 9th, 2011 at 10:58 pm
Beverly,
So nice of you to stop by and share your thoughts. We all have problems and challenges at times, but most of us are able to deal with them privately, sharing with a few close friends or family. Elizabeth Edwards had so much to deal with physically and emotionally with millions of people watching and commenting. She did handle it all with grace.
Erica
Dr. Erica Goodstone recently posted..All You Need Is Love
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January 21st, 2011 at 11:20 pm
Dr.,
I agree with you that Elizabeth Edwards is an incredible woman. What a difficult way to end your life – it seemed that everything came down on her all at once. I love that she said her family got her through it. Through my young adult years, I’ve learned that family is one of the only constants in your life, and to never take them for granted.
Jenny
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Dr. Goodstone Reply:
January 25th, 2011 at 1:49 am
Jenny,
Many families truly come through during a time of illness but some people develop a “family” of caring friends who provide that love and care. Sometimes a hospice worker is all that a dying person has to get them through that end of life piece.
Erica
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January 29th, 2011 at 8:23 am
As a Canadian, I don’t know Elizabeth Edwards’ story other than what you’ve written here.
Sometimes it seems a person is called upon to endure TOO much. As a mother who lost her eldest son in a vehicle accident in December 2009, I know whereof I speak. But I wonder if Elizabeth found her strength in the God who says we are never given more than we can bear with His help…
Thank you for sharing her story with us.
Willena Flewelling
Willena Flewelling recently posted..I Never Believed Him – Before
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Dr. Goodstone Reply:
January 29th, 2011 at 5:21 pm
Willena,
It seems that Elizabeth Edwards got her strength from a strong belief in God and also and strong connection with her family and friends.
Erica
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February 20th, 2011 at 9:43 pm
Hello,
I don’t keep up with the news very well, so I appreciated your post very much. Elizabeth Edwards was a truly remarkable woman, with apparently strong faith in God. She seems to have been able to gather comfort from Him, and strength to forgive — even continue a loving relationship with her husband, all the while being in the public eye where nothing is sacred. What a powerful story!
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February 21st, 2011 at 2:20 am
Pastor Sherry,
Trusting in God or a higher power can make life so much more meaningful and can help us to live with forgiveness and love and gratitude.
Warmly,
Erica
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March 9th, 2011 at 9:39 pm
Hello Dr. Goodstone
Well said “Elegance is a quality that emerges from forgiveness.” John Marks Templeton describes forgiveness as a process of giving positive energies for something that may have been less than positive. Such as giving love for less than loving. When you forgive you release unproductive thoughts and attitudes from your mind so you partake more fully of the ever-renewing life and vitality God has prepared for you.
Thanks for this post on forgiveness which is so important in our lives.
Perry A Davis Jr
Music City USA
Perry A Davis Jr recently posted..What is the real reason people quit network marketing
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Dr. Goodstone Reply:
March 9th, 2011 at 10:24 pm
Perry,
Forgiveness is often so difficult and yet so healing when we are able to let go and just feel the love and empathy and compassion.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Erica
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August 23rd, 2011 at 3:15 pm
Elizabeth Edwards displayed such strength, courage and compassion and we certainly can all learn from her.
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Dr. Goodstone Reply:
August 24th, 2011 at 1:26 am
Melody,
I agree. To be in the public spotlight while enduring intense emotional pain and cancer to boot, is ceratinly not easy. And she handled it with elegance.
Erica
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