My younger brother Andrew Rees is a Psychiatrist, a Lt Col, and Squadron Commander in the Air Force. Over the holiday break he wrote an article for the Base that was so touching I immediately asked his permission to share it with all of you as well. Here is what he wrote:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou are greater than you know.\u201d This simple quote, attributed to various authors, is displayed in a prominent location in my family\u2019s home. Every member of my family sees it every day and is thereby reminded of it. Every day. It was true whenever it was first said, and it is true now \u2014 for every one of us, every day. \u201cYou are greater than you know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2007, my wife Katie and I were anxiously anticipating the birth of our first child \u2014 filled with all of the hopes, dreams and aspirations that accompany that great event. Those who know my family are aware that 12 years later, we now have four amazing little boys \u2014 for each one of whom we are forever grateful. But most are not aware that this first child was a little girl \u2014 a perfect, beautiful baby girl who weighed 5 pounds, 9.4 ounces, was 19.25 inches long, had her mommy\u2019s eyes and her daddy\u2019s nose and was born on Valentine\u2019s Day \u2014 a girl named Sophie who died about two days before she was born. She is forever in our hearts and forever a part of our family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Events like this can, and often do, change us. They can change our perspective, our approach to life, how we think about and see the world. Sophie did not do a single thing in this world aside from being born. And yet her very existence changed the world \u2014 at least, her family\u2019s world. Words can\u2019t express the pain we felt at the loss of our firstborn child, and I would be remiss not to say that it was our family\u2019s faith that sustained us through this trial \u2014 but living through this trial, in turn, deepened our faith. As George Bailey learned in the timeless classic, \u201cIt\u2019s A Wonderful Life,\u201d every one of us matters \u2014 every one of us. And Sophie is a constant reminder of that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our perspective, our thoughts \u2014 how we think about ourselves, others and our circumstances \u2014 It is these thoughts that lead us to greater faith, joy and resilience or to despair, to give up, to devalue ourselves or others. As a psychiatrist and now as a squadron commander, I have learned both in my personal and professional life that our emotions are born from our thoughts and that thoughts are, by definition, not facts \u2014 They are just thoughts. Some are true, some are not, and there is always more to the story. But it is the thoughts we choose to believe, focus on and embrace that determine our own reality \u2014 emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually. It is true that I cannot control the waves on the sea, but I can build, strengthen, maintain and repair my ship. I can choose not to believe or to focus on negative or destructive thoughts about myself, others or my circumstances; I can choose to believe in myself, in others and in good things to come. And for every success you and I have in so doing, we will impact not only ourselves for good \u2014 we will impact our families, our coworkers, and the world \u2014 even if only one person\u2019s world. Because you and I are greater \u2014 far greater \u2014 than we know. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
(end of article by Lt. Col Andrew Rees)<\/p>\n\n\n\n