There are multiple instances in life in which all we need is someone to tell us how things will be okay and how it will all pass. Tracy states how parents spend their lives becoming the best versions of themselves for their children. From being the best parents to being there for emotional support whenever the child falls and scrapes his knee, the child’s eyes search for his parents in times of discomfort and hurt.
Parents play a significant role in shaping children’s perspectives and personalities from scraping knees to keeping them together after their first breakup. A single phrase telling how things will be okay, even when nothing seems to work out, parents make sure to be there. However, what about the times when the parents are the ones who ended comfort? Tracy wished that it all worked the same way, as seeing your child battling for their next breath, being hurt, and feeling that there is no way out seems harsh.
Tracy recalls how a few years ago, when there was a cancer scare for her husband, the wait to see the test results of the biopsy was painful. There were days spent whispering prayers and quietly staying hopeful despite the heart and mind constantly battling. On those days, Tracy continually felt drained emotionally and physically, and the weight of fear regarding the results took over. On such a day, while driving home, she saw a sign that was just another billboard, but the comfort it gave her was unmatched.
She stopped her car at the red traffic light and held her head in her hands, asking God for a sign. In a low voice, she told God how it was all scary, and she wanted a sign to assure her that things would be okay. She did not see anything coming, but there was a sing when she moved her head back up again. Across the busy intersection, in bold letters, there was a big board with the words ‘Everything will be okay’ written in bold.
It was something Tracy did not see coming, and the signal, the red light, seemed to be there forever. Tracy had frozen in the moment seeing the board, and right after she was done staring, she pulled out her phone to take a few pictures. In just a few seconds, Tracy was convinced that God had heard her, which was a sign. It was there for him, she believed it! Later, she learned that it was a local art installation by Jason Kofke meant to comfort people. Despite being in the same town for years, Tracy had never seen it before! The board was a constant reassurance for so many people every day, and that day, it had changed Tracy.
Since that day, Tracy has carried the message with her. Every time she felt low, every visit to the hospital when fear crept in, that message kept Tracy moving on. She reminded herself of how it was meant for her. Then came the day the biopsy results were going to be released. The results were surprising as the doctors did expect them to show cancer; however, there were no signs! No lymph nodes either, it was all a misunderstanding. Knowing how her husband had no health complications was a dream come true, as Tracy, all this time, could not accept her husband being sick or suffering.
The message Tracy saw on the board has been in her mind, especially during the rough phases. Every time she passes by, she smirks and reads it repeatedly. She did not just keep it to herself; she told it all to her loved ones, anyone who would need it in that moment, as it is not only humans who need reassurance. You need to believe that no matter what you go through, you’ll get through it with great strength and without falling apart.
