Positively Sick!
There must be some positives to living with chronic illness. I decided to dwell on those rather than on the many negatives (like watching someone you love suffer). So I'm going to wrack my brains and come up with a good, positive list:
1. There's signifantly more time spent together. This allows time to read and pray together more often, have more conversations in general.
2. Shared time in the kitchen! It's great to have someone else around to rinse dishes, load the dishwasher, etc.
3. More meaningful and more frequent connection with friends and family. Phone calls, emails, hugs, concerned inquiries are all wonderful.
4. Reconnection with friends from the past. We received a phone call last night from an old friend we haven't communicated with for probably close to ten years. He said, "You've been on my mind for the last three weeks!" Wow! It's great to be remembered!
5. Recipients of a lot of prayer! To think of the number of people praying for us is humbling. It's also a reminder to me - am I remembering to pray for others and their needs?
6. Greater need for God! This is always good because it drives us to our knees more earnestly, more frequently and desperately than ever before.
7. Increased love of the Word! Finding those nuggets of Truth and feeding on the Bread of Life keeps us going.
8. Experiencing the peace of God beyond understanding. How can one ever know that kind of peace unless one is in a situation that defies peace in the natural?
9. Better understanding of the Body of Christ and the necessity of its proper function. There is nothing worse than feeling isolated in a time of trial. When the Body is working, there's the sense of "we're in this together."
10. Heaven is looking better all the time! Paul said he longed to go and be with Christ. Hmmm...can't say I really LONG for that right now - but the feeling is growing.
11. Realization that things could be MUCH WORSE! So learning to be grateful for every little thing - from the privilege of watching a movie, attending church together, running an errand, doing laundry, eating together, talking politics (like we know so much :) and the economy (don't get that at all!). Here's a biggie: NOT being bedridden. Lots of stuff to be grateful for.
I'll add more things another time as they come to me! Remember to give thanks IN and FOR everything!
1. There's signifantly more time spent together. This allows time to read and pray together more often, have more conversations in general.
2. Shared time in the kitchen! It's great to have someone else around to rinse dishes, load the dishwasher, etc.
3. More meaningful and more frequent connection with friends and family. Phone calls, emails, hugs, concerned inquiries are all wonderful.
4. Reconnection with friends from the past. We received a phone call last night from an old friend we haven't communicated with for probably close to ten years. He said, "You've been on my mind for the last three weeks!" Wow! It's great to be remembered!
5. Recipients of a lot of prayer! To think of the number of people praying for us is humbling. It's also a reminder to me - am I remembering to pray for others and their needs?
6. Greater need for God! This is always good because it drives us to our knees more earnestly, more frequently and desperately than ever before.
7. Increased love of the Word! Finding those nuggets of Truth and feeding on the Bread of Life keeps us going.
8. Experiencing the peace of God beyond understanding. How can one ever know that kind of peace unless one is in a situation that defies peace in the natural?
9. Better understanding of the Body of Christ and the necessity of its proper function. There is nothing worse than feeling isolated in a time of trial. When the Body is working, there's the sense of "we're in this together."
10. Heaven is looking better all the time! Paul said he longed to go and be with Christ. Hmmm...can't say I really LONG for that right now - but the feeling is growing.
11. Realization that things could be MUCH WORSE! So learning to be grateful for every little thing - from the privilege of watching a movie, attending church together, running an errand, doing laundry, eating together, talking politics (like we know so much :) and the economy (don't get that at all!). Here's a biggie: NOT being bedridden. Lots of stuff to be grateful for.
I'll add more things another time as they come to me! Remember to give thanks IN and FOR everything!
posted by Diane Dahlen @ 2/27/2008
3 Comments:
At 6:22 AM,
Anonymous said…
I love you Diane.
It is so comforting to know that God is encircling your family in His arms. He knows what you are feeling, what you are going through, and just how much it hurts. I admire your faith Diane, but remember that it is ok to cry.
My mom is going through a rough time right now- it is actually your words of faith and nuggets of truth from God's word, that has been an encouragement. keep them coming! Bless you
At 7:51 PM,
Anonymous said…
Thanks for your encouraging words! Just for the record, I do cry plenty but I don't think they are always "righteous tears." Some are tears of self-pity and unbelief. Oh, well. I'm glad Jesus understands!
Love you back.
At 7:53 PM,
Anonymous said…
That previous anonymous post was actually me - I never can click on the right thing!
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