chronic illness

Intervention

There is a show on A&E called Intervention.  I had seen some previews for it but never watched the show until today.  In my snowed-in boredom, I found myself flipping channels and I happened to stop on A&E just as the show began.  This particular episode was about a young lady (probably around my age – yes I still consider myself young – lol – on most days!) and she had rheumatoid arthritis and was addicted to pain killers.  Maybe this particular episode hit closer to home, but I had to finish watching it and had John watch it will me.  The show follows her day to day for several days before the actual intervention.  I truly felt for her as I know what its like to be in pain every.single.day.  And I also know how tempting it is to find whatever way possible to try to forget the pain regardless of the cost.  Chronic pain definitely puts these thoughts in your heads.  Thankfully I have never put myself in the position of taking too many painkillers but I know the temptation. 

I was really wondering how the doctors would approach the situation with her family and her during the intervention itself.  Before the young woman was brought into the room, the doctors met with her family and I was so impressed with what they said.  They told her family, “B has rheumatoid arthritis.  Her pain is real and it hurts.  Without living with these disease, you have no idea what it feels like to be inside her skin therefore we cannot say that we know what it is like and what decisions we would make.”  I wanted to stand up and cheer.  Granted, she honestly had a true addiction but she was also honestly hurting as well and I was very impressed with how her family, the doctor and the counselor handled the intervention.  With TV shows you never really know.  I thought they were just going to show up and her door and throw her in a hospital van and take her away.  Instead they brought her into a safe environment and started with love.  Thankfully, she agreed to treatment and the doctors were able to find better ways to treat her RA.  It was also found that she had Lyme Disease so she was able to receive treatment for that as well. 

Sometimes you never know what you may find when you are flipping the channels and how it may impact and touch your own life.

faith

Friday Words of Faith – One Day Too Late

Today’s Words of Faith are inspired by an amazing song, One Day Too Late, by my favorite band Skillet.

One Day Too Late lyrics

Tick tock hear the clock countdown
Wish the minute hand could be rewound
So much to do and so much I need to say
Will tomorrow be too late

Feel the moment slip into the past
Like sand through an hourglass
In the madness I guess I just forget
To do all the things I said

Time passes by
Never thought I’d wind up
One step behind
Now I’ve made my mind up

Today I’m gonna try a little harder
Gonna make every minute last longer
Gonna learn to forgive and forget
’Cause we don’t have long, gonna make the most of it

Today I’m gonna love my enemies
Reach out to somebody who needs me
Make a change, make the world a better place
’Cause tomorrow could be one day too late
One day too late
One day too late

Tick tock hear my life pass by
I can’t erase and I can’t rewind
Of all the things I regret the most I do…
Wish I’d spent more time with you

Here’s my chance for a new beginning
I saved the best for a better ending
And in the end I’ll make it up to you, you’ll see
You’ll get the very best of me

Your time is running out
You’re never gonna get it back
Make the most of every moment
Stop saving the best for last

What changes could we make in the world if we stopped putting everything off until tomorrow?  James 4:13-14 states, “Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”  Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”  
Now I am not saying that it is wrong to make plans (I myself am a planner!) but I think so often we get so wrapped up in making plans for the future that we sometimes miss what is happening in the present.  Or in making our plans, we completely leave God out of it.  Or we are so attached to our plans that when God intervenes we become angry at God for interrupting our plans.  Do you fall into any of these categories?
James 4:15 goes on to say, “Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”  That is the key.  Maybe we would benefit if when we sat down to make our plans we took a moment to ask God, “Is this what You want?  Is this Your will for my life?”  How different do you think our lives would be if we stopped to ask that question?
Now that I am a mom, I truly see just how fast time goes by.  It just seems like yesterday we were bringing Abby home at 8 weeks old and now she is 9 months old!  She is crawling 90 miles an hour, pulling up, and saying “mama” and “dada.”  Where does time go so fast?  
May we all learn that each second is precious and a gift.  We are not guaranteed next year, next month, or even next week.  May the words of this song become the prayer of our hearts- “Today I’m gonna try a little harder – Gonna make every minute last longer – Gonna learn to forgive and forget – ’Cause we don’t have long, gonna make the most of it – Today I’m gonna love my enemies – Reach out to somebody who needs me – Make a change, make the world a better place – ’Cause tomorrow could be one day too late”

weight loss

Monday Project #4 – My Letter to Me

Rethink Your Shrink, The Monday Project
Dear Self – 2010,

What an amazing year 2010 has been for you!  The year started off a little rocky but you quickly got a handle on it and away you went!  After some trial and error, you and your rheumatologist finally found the perfect combination to relieve a lot of your fibromyalgia symptoms!  You still had some down days but those were so very few in comparison to your good days!  You finally feel like you have some control back in your life!  You have been able to develop a healthy diet and maintain an exercise program!  You can celebrate in your “skinny” jeans!

Shortly after the year  began, you got to celebrate the finalization of Abby’s adoption!  After months of impatiently waiting, the news came!  She is an official member of the family and you’ve got the birth certificate to prove it!  She has grown so much!  You had a great birthday celebration with your family and friends.  She started walking and never looked back!  Abby is a vivacious little girl and brings joy to everyone she meets.  She continues to be a portrait of God’s grace and love and every day you have been reminded of the miracle of life.

You can’t forget the wonderful date of May 17th!  You and John are officially seminary graduates!  And what better way to celebrate success than with a family vacation to the beach!  Springtime has been very eventful between celebrating Abby’s 1st birthday, graduation, and your 5 year wedding anniversary!  So time at the beach is just the ticket!  Did I mention that you were able to wear a two-piece at the beach?  You also began the journey towards your dream job by starting a residency program (where you actually use your degree!).

Now that grad school is out of the way, there was so much more time to spend as a family.  You and John were able to go on dates (gasp!) and you took family day-trips to the zoo and to the mountains.  You began the search for the perfect home!  No more apartment life for you!  Family has always been a priority but now it is so much richer.  You are able to come home from work and spend time with John and Abby and not have to worry about homework!

2010 was definitely an amazing year for you and your family!  Just think in 2011 you get to start the adoption process again!

Love,

Self – 2011