"You cannot do a kindness too soon because you never know how soon it will be too late."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

A week ago, my life was buzzing along nicely. I felt balanced and purposeful. Our house remodeling projects were really moving forward. I was coaching by phone, and enjoying the process and the progress made. During the weekend my parents came over for lunch and to celebrate our new home in the Northern California wine country.

As we began carefully walking down the steps outside in the garden, I turned to my Dad, planning on taking his arm. Instead, I saw him falling hard on his lower back- right on the wooden edge of the steps!

We drove him to the hospital to the Emergency Ward, where he was experiencing full body muscle spasms every time he moved slightly. His face turned bright red, and we were all concerned that his heart might give out-as our hearts beat a little faster.

Dad was moved to a care center nearby, while x-rays and scans showed old injuries, but no recent fractures. This was great news!

I spent every day at the care center with Mom and Dad. My husband and I spent nights with my Mom so she wouldn't feel alone.

One week later my 85-year-old Father was back home, following some physical therapy. Although his physical sense of balance is an issue, he is in good shape due to working out in the gym for one hour each day before his fall. With time, I am sure he will heal.

When a loved one experiences a health challenge family members go through ups and downs. First emotions are running high, usually with worry or fear of losing a loved one. In our case, I called Unity Church Silent Prayer Service to pray for my Father for thirty days.

I also began to let go of my worry amd emotional anxiety. I did this by imagining my Dad in perfect health, with light and energy flowing through every cell of his body. I brought these images to the forefront of my mind, especially when my Father was in pain.

What mattered most during this week was to be loving and supportive, and to help my parents get through this challenge. Perhaps you have been through similar experiences yourself.

Other details in life, such as scheduling, planning and "doing" other activities took a back seat. The bigger picture of sharing love, healing, and maintaining faith in the Universal Spirit and caretakers took precedence.

"The place to improve the world is first in one's own heart and head and hands."
Robert Pirsig, author of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.

Should you find yourself with personal or family challenges, know that the Universal Spirit supports you and enfolds you with love. You will quickly gain an inner sense of peace and serenity.
1. Remember that you can acknowledge worry or fear, let it go, and replace it with light filled loving images. This technique will enable you, and those closest to you, to be uplifted and energized. You will automatically create a peaceful atmosphere.
2. Know that emotional or health challenges help us to change our perspective, to get in touch with our compassionate nature, and to grow spiritually.
3. Go with the flow. I wanted to control providing specialized doctors for my Father-without success. I just had to let go, and to understand that things would work out as they should, without forcing or controlling the situation.
4. What matters Most? Love.
   "You will find that as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have truly lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love.
   Henry Drummond