I saw John and Elizabeth Edwards last night, one day after they announced to the world that her cancer had returned and was no longer curable. I went to the event to be supportive. I left realizing that it was John and Elizabeth who were supporting of all of us.
Elizabeth spoke first, and as you might imagine, addressed the subject head on. It had been a "rocky few days," she said, her eyes clear and her voice strong. She went on to say that the decision to continue campaigning had not really been a hard one. She said she so much appreciated all the outpouring of support they had received, but that all she could think about were the people who had received the kind of news she had just gotten and had no one. Or those who had to get up the next day and go back to work. They were the ones she was thinking about. To stand there and listen to her you knew that she was being absolutely honest.
When John spoke he was calm and clear -but I will be honest here--he looked a little shell-shocked. He said that when the doctors left Elizabeth's hospital room, they talked about "what does this mean." He said that Elizabeth concluded that first, we do what is best for Emma Claire, Jack and Kate, and then we will do what is best for the country.
These are not ordinary people.
When you watch them, it becomes clear that they found a way to deal with life's adversities when they lost their son, Wade. And when viewed through that prism, what they are now choosing to do makes perfect sense. If you have lost a child you better the heck do something useful with the days God has left you on Earth without them.
I remember a few months ago when I saw Elizabeth at a book signing for Saving Graces, that she said she doesn't fear death because she knows she will get to see Wade.
I also remember that someone told her that she would hate the presidential race because people would say nasty things. She laughed and replied, " They are going to hurt me with words? Not likely."
So when the likes of Rush Limbaugh snipe that the Edwardses turned to "politics not God," I'd like to call him lots of foul names. But I think instead I will take the Edwardsian approach and say, "So what? Those are only words."
John and Elizabeth are clearheaded and selfless to make the decision they have made. Their life experiences have both forged and revealed tremendous character and moral courage.
I came home last night and realized that all of my problems seemed very small. I went to sleep feeling very fortunate indeed--fortunate to know John and Elizabeth Edwards.