Thursday, April 28, 2011

The weather

I'm praying for all of those who have been affected by the horrible weather that has hit this country.  I don't know where any of you live, or if you have been personally affected, but I am praying for you.

I hope and pray that each of you are safe. 

God Bless You All,

Elaine

Friday, April 22, 2011

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Unintentional Pain

Today I was hit hard with it.  Someone was talking about a person who had just had surgery and was unable to walk and he had a garden to plant and things to do.  The comment was made that "he will get it done some how, he's such a strong person".  I laughed for a moment and then wanted to cry.  Immediately the song "you can't keep a good man down" entered my head.

If he can "do" it, in spite of his limitations, then where does that leave me when I can't?  How do I measure up?  What makes me less able to overcome my limitations when all around me there are those who "work through the pain....."

I was happy for the person who was able.  I honestly was.  But at that moment I felt that old pain of not measuring up.  If I was good enough, this disease would not control me..... I would just make myself keep going wouldn't I?

I wanted to shout out that it's not always  possible to keep going.  My body shuts down and says enough and stops.  Willpower and being good have NOTHING to do with what I can and can't do.  I have tried pushing hard and paid a heavy price for my actions.  Occasionally I make the decision to "do it anyway" and pay the price.  Sometimes its worth it.... I know I've mentioned some of this before.  I've been measuring, weighing, and parceling out my "energies" for so long that it is just second nature now. 

But then along comes those "times".  When breathing is an effort.  Walking is a shuffle and a short one at that.  (Do I really need to go to the bathroom or can it wait another hour).....  I know I haven't been drinking my water, but I would have to walk to the kitchen to get a drink... besides, if I drink, I will have to get up more often.......

It sounds like some of you are hurting too.  The weight of our illnesses can be overwhelming at times.  The pain of our losses too great.  Our hope seems to have been robbed from us.  And we are left with only our thoughts. 

What a lonely place that can be!

But there is a hope and His name is Jesus.  He will meet us there in that lonely place and hold us close.  He will nurture us and give us all that we need to survive.  He will renew our spirit and give us joy.  He may not heal our bodies, but He will heal our minds and our souls.  He will make us complete.  And even if our bodies are not healed, we have the knowledge that one day they will be.  There is a place called Heaven where there is no more pain or suffering.  We will run and dance.  We will do all those things that we are unable to do right now.  We must hold on to the faith and know that even though we are tired and sick now, those better days are coming!

Hold on my friends.  Jesus is coming!  We can make it.  He will give us the strength needed to face each and every day until He calls us home.

God Bless You All!

Elaine

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Anniversarys

Good morning to you all.  It's been a while since I've posted.  There are so many things going on at our house that I've been overwhelmed and too tired....

February, March, and April bring so much emotion to the table.  Rob's dad died in Feb.  My mom celebrated her BD and fell in March.  She died early April. Rob's dad's BD is in April too.  And I celebrate my illnessversary in April.  (None of it happened this year).

April 1994 is the year that I don't forget.  I was working, managing a household, watching over my parents and family, and WHAM!  I got sick.  Felt like the flu and my spine hurt so bad I could hardly walk.  My right side became unresponsive.  It was basically useless. I drug my foot and carried my arm.  In time, I was nearly incapacitated.  I needed help to get in and out of bed.  I could not care for anyone, including myself.  Our home life ground to a halt.  Rob did what he could, but was totally out of his league.  He worked long hours and the kids all were in school, etc... My Mom came to the rescue.  She cooked, cleaned, did laundry, and kept tabs on my family.  She cut up my food and cooked things that were easy to swallow.  I spent a year like that.  (My Mom and I were very close and I still miss her terribly.)  The poor doctors were baffled.  I felt like I'd lost my life.  The days were long and the nights were longer.  After about a year, I began to improve some. I could walk on my own and realized that it took amazing effort to do so.  I began to notice all sorts of things about my body.  And the effort to simply breathe was all encompassing.  I wanted to die.  Part of me had.  Why couldn't the rest of me do so also?   I was terrified.  I was useless.  My family was in shock. 

As the months went by, I struggled with the doctors opinions of me.  Words like lazy, fat, and mentally ill, began to show up in reports. After all the tests were all "normal", so it must be in my head, right?  I felt terrible and knew there was something "wrong".  I could feel the difference in my body.  After two years I met a doc from Canada who had worked with women who had fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue.  She diagnosed me on my first visit with her.  I was, in many ways, set free on that day. My "condition" had a name! Treatment was to kill the pain and clear the depression.  It didn't work very well, but I did sleep more and was more alert when I was awake.  I had about two "good" hours a day and I treasured them.

As the years began to add up, the family dynamics changed dramatically.  I watched from the side lines as the kids grew, married, and moved on.  I tried to be involved, but after each event, it took months to recover.  I learned to pace and to weigh the price of each choice.  Was it worth what it would cost?  So many times the answer was no...........  I hated myself and what I had become. 

I was a Christian the whole time, but that didn't seem to matter.  God wasn't healing me.  I wanted my old life back!  I wanted a life -- period.  I could not see the positives at all.  Yes, I was depressed and sad, and in pain and clouded by drugs.  No, I wasn't faking it so I didn't have to work anymore.... I felt betrayed by my own body and mind.  But God didn't give up on me.  He continued to nurture me through others and I began to see that life was going to continue.  I was going to live and I needed to adapt to this the best way possible.  So, with many prayers, much love, and a God bigger than my  problems, I began to look at life again.  I began to relish the days and to celebrate living. 

I did improve some more and that helped too.  I could keep house somewhat and drive again.  I managed to keep tabs on our youngest and to drive my folks where they needed to go.  My extended family just watched and shook their heads.  They didn't understand.  What I couldn't explain to them was that for the most part, we didn't understand either.... it was simply the new reality for us.

During the years, there have been many ups and downs and mostly "it is what it is".  I seldom commit to anything as I never know how I will feel that day... I do what I can and try not to hit myself over the head about the rest.  I sleep a lot, rest a lot, and try to enjoy each day as it comes.  I spend as much time with family as possible.  I go to church when I'm able. 

My husband has bi-polar disease and heart problems.  He is unable to work  and at times its like the fountain has been left on around here.  We are unable to help each other like we want to. We are limited so much personally that we have nothing to give to each other.  It's a sad fact of our lives.  Thankfully we are not both "down" at the same time too often.  But when we are, neither one of us wants to be here!

But, I am blessed.  I have so much that others don't.  I have a warm and dry home and have food for my table.  I have a husband and a family who loves me.  I have a Lord and Savior who died for my sins and has claimed me as His own.  I am loved. 

Yes, I am blessed.  And I have found my hope in the midst of this life.

And now I have each of you.  You add to my blessings with your encouragement and honesty.  Thanks to each of you.

God Bless and Keep You Always,

Elaine