A very dear friend was lamenting that she felt she couldn't and didn't help me in any way. We talked and talked about it. I felt she does all she can. (she lives in another state a long way from me). She loves me, always comes to see my when she's here in Oregon, writes to me, etc.... Still she felt badly that she sees me in a life that is so different than hers. She works full time, is involved in her church and other ministries, has a busy family, etc....
It got me to thinking. She does many ministries that I would love to do, but simply can't. And then it occurred to me. She is my hands and feet. I am her prayer partner. I lift her up and support her, and she goes about the doing.
We make a great pair! I know there is a song out about being God's hands and feet, but I'd never thought about someone being mine before. I can pray and support others in what they are able to "do", thus allowing them to continue the work of God. I can pray and support them. Together we are making this world a better place and I am contributing also.
What a gift! I get to "do" something!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Praying for you all and hoping this is a great day for you!!!
Blessings,
Elaine
Showing posts with label Prayer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Prayer. Show all posts
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Seeing Invisible People
I had a very interesting day yesterday. I had a counseling appointment and I was early. In the building there is a prayer room. I had never had time to enter into it before. As I went in, I felt a peace and a calm within my soul. I spent about 15 minutes there, reading some of what other people had left behind, looking and praying. I had a wonderful counseling session afterwards.
I had to get dog food and found I was too tired to drive home. I went into a local sandwich shop and had a snack. As I was sitting there, reading the local paper and eating, a man stopped and started a conversation with me. I was a bit taken aback, but he looked harmless and after all, I was inside a shop with people all around me.
He started to talk about newspapers and how he had worked for many different ones over the years. He had written lots of articles, published his church's newsletter, and done many other things associated with newspapers. It was interesting to talk to him and mostly I listened.
He began to tell me his story. He had been the victim of a vicious mugging that left him near death. He had a profound awakening and decided to live his life for God instead of people. He had not been a believer before his mugging. He shared about his experience and his life since. His wife has cystic fibrosis and had he died, she would have been sent to a nursing home. He wears a hat due to all the scarring on his head from his many surgeries. He has limited use of his right hand, but is thankful for every day now here on earth. He is happy to be caring for his wife, even though he has to walk everywhere as his license was revoked.
As I listened to his story, I was overcome with joy. He shared his faith walk, his views, and mostly just wanted to be heard. He had so much to share and was so open and honest. And yet, to the casual eye, he "looked normal". He looked "well". And God spoke to me through him. There are so many people who have a bigger story to tell. We are so busy and involved with our lives, that they often are overlooked. Those of us with invisible illnesses are often simply ignored by those whose lives are busy and full. I could have missed a chance to hear his story and share his life. I could have been afraid and ignored him. I could have missed his faith story. I could have missed God.
But because I could relate and identify with him, I didn't. I heard his cry to be heard and to have someone listen. He carries a huge burden caring for his wife. He is isolated much of the time. But he does it with joy and with love. He values each day and wants to share as much of Jesus with others as he can. He might be different, but he is still human and has human needs. He has value and has purpose. He is invisible to many, but a jewel in God's eyes.
So are we my friends. We have value. No matter whether we can get out of bed, off the couch, out of the house, or not, we have value. We need to remember that. When we are down and out, we need to remember that we are exactly where we are supposed to be, doing exactly what we are supposed to be doing. There is a purpose to our lives, even when we can't see it.
As I drove home, rested and renewed, filled with joy and peace, I found my strength returning, my hope surging and my life full.
I got home and greeted my dear husband and dogs. I was tired and found myself totally relaxed. I took a two hour nap and woke ready to tackle the rest of the day.
I didn't feel invisible yesterday. I felt full. My heart sang and my soul rejoiced. Today, those feelings are still with me. I am here and I will do my best to continue to do whatever I am called to do.
I hope and pray that in the midst of your day, you will find a place of value and purpose. That you will be filled with joy, hope, and peace. That your cup would run over and you would have more than you need.
Blessings to you all today.
Elaine
I had to get dog food and found I was too tired to drive home. I went into a local sandwich shop and had a snack. As I was sitting there, reading the local paper and eating, a man stopped and started a conversation with me. I was a bit taken aback, but he looked harmless and after all, I was inside a shop with people all around me.
He started to talk about newspapers and how he had worked for many different ones over the years. He had written lots of articles, published his church's newsletter, and done many other things associated with newspapers. It was interesting to talk to him and mostly I listened.
He began to tell me his story. He had been the victim of a vicious mugging that left him near death. He had a profound awakening and decided to live his life for God instead of people. He had not been a believer before his mugging. He shared about his experience and his life since. His wife has cystic fibrosis and had he died, she would have been sent to a nursing home. He wears a hat due to all the scarring on his head from his many surgeries. He has limited use of his right hand, but is thankful for every day now here on earth. He is happy to be caring for his wife, even though he has to walk everywhere as his license was revoked.
As I listened to his story, I was overcome with joy. He shared his faith walk, his views, and mostly just wanted to be heard. He had so much to share and was so open and honest. And yet, to the casual eye, he "looked normal". He looked "well". And God spoke to me through him. There are so many people who have a bigger story to tell. We are so busy and involved with our lives, that they often are overlooked. Those of us with invisible illnesses are often simply ignored by those whose lives are busy and full. I could have missed a chance to hear his story and share his life. I could have been afraid and ignored him. I could have missed his faith story. I could have missed God.
But because I could relate and identify with him, I didn't. I heard his cry to be heard and to have someone listen. He carries a huge burden caring for his wife. He is isolated much of the time. But he does it with joy and with love. He values each day and wants to share as much of Jesus with others as he can. He might be different, but he is still human and has human needs. He has value and has purpose. He is invisible to many, but a jewel in God's eyes.
So are we my friends. We have value. No matter whether we can get out of bed, off the couch, out of the house, or not, we have value. We need to remember that. When we are down and out, we need to remember that we are exactly where we are supposed to be, doing exactly what we are supposed to be doing. There is a purpose to our lives, even when we can't see it.
As I drove home, rested and renewed, filled with joy and peace, I found my strength returning, my hope surging and my life full.
I got home and greeted my dear husband and dogs. I was tired and found myself totally relaxed. I took a two hour nap and woke ready to tackle the rest of the day.
I didn't feel invisible yesterday. I felt full. My heart sang and my soul rejoiced. Today, those feelings are still with me. I am here and I will do my best to continue to do whatever I am called to do.
I hope and pray that in the midst of your day, you will find a place of value and purpose. That you will be filled with joy, hope, and peace. That your cup would run over and you would have more than you need.
Blessings to you all today.
Elaine
Monday, January 10, 2011
It's Monday
Now what? Another week ahead. Two doctors apts this week.... Freezing rain predicted for Tues. and Wed.... but who knows? Could be snow, sleet, freezing rain, or just plain old rain. Rain is what we usually get around here..... I love the snow and lived 4 years where it did indeed snow! The first winter we had 3 feet drop in two days. It was an amazing introduction to living in the snow!
Those were interesting years. My husband Rob, worked for a recreation company and he did campground work in the summer and helped run the kitchen at the ski resort in the winter. It was FUN! I rode along in the summer and we met so many wonderful people. Some we are still in contact with. In the winter we lived in our RV in a park near the ski resort. So we had utilities in the winter. Right across the road was all forest and had great walking paths. Of course one needed to pay attention as there were cougars, bears, deer, and all sorts of other wildlife. The deer were so pretty and walked right past our trailer daily. I could sit inside and watch the wildlife, the trees, the snow, and loved it. We had a cat then and she would sit on my lap or near my head and watch too.. when the deer were really close, she would sit and her tail would swish as she watched. Rob shoveled snow every AM and PM so if I wanted to go out, I had a path to follow. It felt like paradise.
The summers were intersting too. We lived 3 summers in a campground with no utilities except water and that only worked part of the time. Interesting though, I felt better there than I had in years anywhere else. Some one asked me once if I had make any connection to my illness with electricity? Made me wonder.... I have no idea how electricity could be connected. ( Although in the winter the static electricity was so bad that I actually shorted out our phone!) I had the energy to walk and I did. I often spent hours picking up garbage campers had left in campsites. It was a wonderful time. Time where I didn't have to think and could pray, reflect, and simply enjoy my surroundings. A time to remember and hang onto now that I'm not nearly so "well".
It reminds me of something my Mom always said to me. "This too shall pass". I hang onto those words, knowing that she knew full well what they meant. My oldest brother (whom I never met) was killed in a swimming accident on our creek the summer before I was born. She knew the full meaning of suffering. And even when she fell and hit her head, she was still walking on her own. She had a brain bleed and because of her CLL, they couldnt stop the bleeding. They tried and she did so well after her surgery. It was a hard blow to know that the bleeding wouldnt stop. She and I were very good friends and I miss her still. It will be 2 years in April since she died. She was 93. Rob and I had lived next door to my parents for 23 years and had taken care of them until we went into the campgrounds. Our daughter and son in law moved in with them and that allowed us to do some new things. Dad died in 1998.
Suffering takes on different personalities. But suffer we do. Some have physical problems, others have family issues that take my breath away, some are so locked away mentally that they are in a place of their own, some have things in their lives that I can't fathom. When I look around, I am thankful that I have my kind of suffering. Thankful! I can't imagine going through some of what I see around me. I do what I can to help others and usually it is prayer. I can "do" so little else. Prayer is vital and I am thankful both for the prayers said on my behalf and those I say for others.
Perhaps today, as we come together, we can take a moment and think of someone we know who is suffering and offer up a prayer for them.
Blessings to you today,
Elaine
Those were interesting years. My husband Rob, worked for a recreation company and he did campground work in the summer and helped run the kitchen at the ski resort in the winter. It was FUN! I rode along in the summer and we met so many wonderful people. Some we are still in contact with. In the winter we lived in our RV in a park near the ski resort. So we had utilities in the winter. Right across the road was all forest and had great walking paths. Of course one needed to pay attention as there were cougars, bears, deer, and all sorts of other wildlife. The deer were so pretty and walked right past our trailer daily. I could sit inside and watch the wildlife, the trees, the snow, and loved it. We had a cat then and she would sit on my lap or near my head and watch too.. when the deer were really close, she would sit and her tail would swish as she watched. Rob shoveled snow every AM and PM so if I wanted to go out, I had a path to follow. It felt like paradise.
The summers were intersting too. We lived 3 summers in a campground with no utilities except water and that only worked part of the time. Interesting though, I felt better there than I had in years anywhere else. Some one asked me once if I had make any connection to my illness with electricity? Made me wonder.... I have no idea how electricity could be connected. ( Although in the winter the static electricity was so bad that I actually shorted out our phone!) I had the energy to walk and I did. I often spent hours picking up garbage campers had left in campsites. It was a wonderful time. Time where I didn't have to think and could pray, reflect, and simply enjoy my surroundings. A time to remember and hang onto now that I'm not nearly so "well".
It reminds me of something my Mom always said to me. "This too shall pass". I hang onto those words, knowing that she knew full well what they meant. My oldest brother (whom I never met) was killed in a swimming accident on our creek the summer before I was born. She knew the full meaning of suffering. And even when she fell and hit her head, she was still walking on her own. She had a brain bleed and because of her CLL, they couldnt stop the bleeding. They tried and she did so well after her surgery. It was a hard blow to know that the bleeding wouldnt stop. She and I were very good friends and I miss her still. It will be 2 years in April since she died. She was 93. Rob and I had lived next door to my parents for 23 years and had taken care of them until we went into the campgrounds. Our daughter and son in law moved in with them and that allowed us to do some new things. Dad died in 1998.
Suffering takes on different personalities. But suffer we do. Some have physical problems, others have family issues that take my breath away, some are so locked away mentally that they are in a place of their own, some have things in their lives that I can't fathom. When I look around, I am thankful that I have my kind of suffering. Thankful! I can't imagine going through some of what I see around me. I do what I can to help others and usually it is prayer. I can "do" so little else. Prayer is vital and I am thankful both for the prayers said on my behalf and those I say for others.
Perhaps today, as we come together, we can take a moment and think of someone we know who is suffering and offer up a prayer for them.
Blessings to you today,
Elaine
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
The Desire of the Afflicted
Oh, how I needed those words today. Psalm 10 vs 17."You hear, oh Lord, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry."
I needed to be reminded that the Lord hears me when I cry! When it seems I cry out and no one is there, He is there and hears me. I am so comforted by that. I pray you will be too.
Just when I think I have quit questioning "why", the doubts and fears surface and there I am again.... wondering..... I honestly don't understand why "we" are sick. Why bad things happen to people. Why life throws curve balls that hit us squarely where we live.
But as I read that today, I am reassured that while I may not understand, I am not alone in this. God hears my cries and sends encouragement to me. I am so very thankful for that.
I still have pain and severe fatigue. I still have knees that need replaced and feet that need surgery. My circumstances have not changed, but my attitude has. I will rest and reflect and know that in His time, I will be better. I will do my best to focus on Him and what He has for me to do. Not on me and what I can't do.
These days in the midst can be long and hard. Seek Him and know that while we don't understand now, someday we will. Praying for you today.
Blessings,
Elaine
I needed to be reminded that the Lord hears me when I cry! When it seems I cry out and no one is there, He is there and hears me. I am so comforted by that. I pray you will be too.
Just when I think I have quit questioning "why", the doubts and fears surface and there I am again.... wondering..... I honestly don't understand why "we" are sick. Why bad things happen to people. Why life throws curve balls that hit us squarely where we live.
But as I read that today, I am reassured that while I may not understand, I am not alone in this. God hears my cries and sends encouragement to me. I am so very thankful for that.
I still have pain and severe fatigue. I still have knees that need replaced and feet that need surgery. My circumstances have not changed, but my attitude has. I will rest and reflect and know that in His time, I will be better. I will do my best to focus on Him and what He has for me to do. Not on me and what I can't do.
These days in the midst can be long and hard. Seek Him and know that while we don't understand now, someday we will. Praying for you today.
Blessings,
Elaine
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
