Living with chronic illness is like a rollercoaster ride. Not the small carnival coaster, but the big giant rollercoasters that create screams, tears, and vomit. You never know what's up ahead around the next curve. Will it take you up or down? Will it slow or speed up? Will it tilt side to side or make you feel like your about to fly out and die? How long will it last? Will it ever stop?
You approach the coaster with trepidation, not knowing what to expect. You get off the coaster with the relief of being back on solid ground. You may get sick to your stomach at the experience you just had. Does that sound like fun? Maybe it is in an amusement park. It is not fun, when you live it every day.
What most people don't realize that there are many of us walking around, looking normal, doing normal things who live this way. We are not disfigured. We are not walking with a cane or walker, not riding in a wheelchair. However, disabled we are. But because we look like everyone else, it is assumed that we are not in pain, that we are not fatigued, that we are not battling depression, that we are not struggling with brain fog, that we are capable of everything a healthy person can do. We are judged when we don't do the things that others can do. We are judged to be lazy, unmotivated, disorganized, even stupid or crazy.
Those of us that suffer from chronic fatigue, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, and other autoimmune and systemic diseases have the same want to as anyone else. They just can't always do. They have dreams of doing new things and going to new places. They just can't always fulfill those dreams. They have needs of maintaining a healthy weight by exercising and eating right. The just don't have the energy to exercise, dread having additional pain on top of their existing pain, and they eat comfort foods to sooth themselves in their depression over their illness. They are then judged again for not being strong enough to overcome these things.
Those of us with these hidden illnesses grieve. We grieve the person we used to be. We grieve the effects it has on our lives. We grieve the loss of respect from other people. We grieve the impact it has on those around us. We grieve the dreams for the future that are lost. We grieve the life we hoped to have being able to travel, to be able to learn knew things, to be able to handle grand babies without fear. We grieve being left out of things because people don't know if they can rely on us. We grieve the lack of understanding and compassion from others.
We don't want pity. We don't want you to feel sorry for us. We want to be understood. We want to be trusted when we explain ourselves to you. We want to be loved and encouraged. We want acceptance of this version of ourselves. We want to do the best we can with what we have even though sometimes we can't. We want to get off of the rollercoaster of pain and fatigue. We want to be our "normal selves". We can not be the old normal and have to accept our new normal as best we can. It would be nice just to maintain a level track without the constant surprises around the bend. It would be nice just to be back on level ground.
Monday, August 14, 2017
Friday, August 4, 2017
PILING ON
I have to admit that I have not been up to blogging. I have to admit that I am not feeling my most positive self. I have to admit that I have been letting things get me down.
What are those things? My health issues. Besides the fibromyalgia I was diagnosed with in 1994 and the proceeding rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis soon to follow along with chronic fatigue. I have endured a number of maladies along the way. I have had to have multiple surgeries, one of which was to remove the left lobe of my thyroid. Hence, my recent diagnosis of hypothyroidism! I now have to take a medication (synthroid) to compensate. I know lots of people that take it and most have had issues about regulating the dosage. Something else to deal with.
For those of you that don't know, fibromyalgia is a condition that causes widespread pain throughout the muscles of the body. Just recently they have concluded that it has to do with a cell that is in the blood vessels that deals with pain perception. Fibromyalgia patients have more of the blood vessels therefore more of these cells, therefore more pain. It is not in our heads!
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks the joints. It is painful and can be debilitating. Luckily there are medications that slow down the progression of the disease. The chronic pain of this and the fibromyalgia also cause extreme fatigue. I have had to have shoulder and foot surgery due to the arthritis. I also had a hysterectomy to alleviate that pain and other symptoms so I didn't have that piling on of misery.
I have gone to chiropractors, physical therapy, massage therapists, holistic therapists, specialists, etc. One specialist was the head of rheumatology in New Orleans at Oschner's. He asked about my job and told me that if I went back to it that the stress would kill me. He said that my body could not handle stress. At the time, I was so fatigued that I could barely make it through the week and had to rest each night and all weekend. I had no life and could hardly hold myself upright. I resigned the following week.
Not long ago, I began having chronic lower back and hip pain. An MRI revealed that I have a bulging disc at L4/L5 and arthritis in my vertebrae. I had 3 lumbar injections which did not help. I have been doing physical therapy for months now. I get some relief but then the least little thing flairs it up again. I just started a new round of PT just to try to keep the pain somewhat under control.
Here of late, I have been feeling very fatigued and now understand that it is the hypothyroidism on top of my regular fatigue causing this. I sure hope the medicine helps otherwise I may have to cut back on the things I do again. NO!!!
It seems that just when I am trying to do better as far as exercise and diet, something else hits me. I have been going to a place that works with you on fitness adapted to your medical conditions and nutrition with the goal of reducing inflammation in the body and to lose weight. I have lost 20 lbs since April. I have improved in several areas that they measure as in balance, flexibility, and so forth. I will continue to go there to strengthen myself and to lose weight in hopes that that will help me to move better and have less back and leg pain.
As usual I try to push through and continue to do the things I need to do. Sometimes I just need to shut it down. I would love to right now but I have made commitments to others and want to follow through. I try not to get discouraged, but right now that's where I am. As I've said before, I will have my pity party and then pull myself up by the bootstraps and keep on keeping on.
Although I don't understand the reason for all of this, I trust that The Lord with bring me through it. I just pray that I can do so with grace. Right now I don't feel so graceful and feel like I am at the bottom of a dog pile!
I will go on. I will persevere. I will lift my head, eventually.
What are those things? My health issues. Besides the fibromyalgia I was diagnosed with in 1994 and the proceeding rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis soon to follow along with chronic fatigue. I have endured a number of maladies along the way. I have had to have multiple surgeries, one of which was to remove the left lobe of my thyroid. Hence, my recent diagnosis of hypothyroidism! I now have to take a medication (synthroid) to compensate. I know lots of people that take it and most have had issues about regulating the dosage. Something else to deal with.
For those of you that don't know, fibromyalgia is a condition that causes widespread pain throughout the muscles of the body. Just recently they have concluded that it has to do with a cell that is in the blood vessels that deals with pain perception. Fibromyalgia patients have more of the blood vessels therefore more of these cells, therefore more pain. It is not in our heads!
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks the joints. It is painful and can be debilitating. Luckily there are medications that slow down the progression of the disease. The chronic pain of this and the fibromyalgia also cause extreme fatigue. I have had to have shoulder and foot surgery due to the arthritis. I also had a hysterectomy to alleviate that pain and other symptoms so I didn't have that piling on of misery.
I have gone to chiropractors, physical therapy, massage therapists, holistic therapists, specialists, etc. One specialist was the head of rheumatology in New Orleans at Oschner's. He asked about my job and told me that if I went back to it that the stress would kill me. He said that my body could not handle stress. At the time, I was so fatigued that I could barely make it through the week and had to rest each night and all weekend. I had no life and could hardly hold myself upright. I resigned the following week.
Not long ago, I began having chronic lower back and hip pain. An MRI revealed that I have a bulging disc at L4/L5 and arthritis in my vertebrae. I had 3 lumbar injections which did not help. I have been doing physical therapy for months now. I get some relief but then the least little thing flairs it up again. I just started a new round of PT just to try to keep the pain somewhat under control.
Here of late, I have been feeling very fatigued and now understand that it is the hypothyroidism on top of my regular fatigue causing this. I sure hope the medicine helps otherwise I may have to cut back on the things I do again. NO!!!
It seems that just when I am trying to do better as far as exercise and diet, something else hits me. I have been going to a place that works with you on fitness adapted to your medical conditions and nutrition with the goal of reducing inflammation in the body and to lose weight. I have lost 20 lbs since April. I have improved in several areas that they measure as in balance, flexibility, and so forth. I will continue to go there to strengthen myself and to lose weight in hopes that that will help me to move better and have less back and leg pain.
As usual I try to push through and continue to do the things I need to do. Sometimes I just need to shut it down. I would love to right now but I have made commitments to others and want to follow through. I try not to get discouraged, but right now that's where I am. As I've said before, I will have my pity party and then pull myself up by the bootstraps and keep on keeping on.
Although I don't understand the reason for all of this, I trust that The Lord with bring me through it. I just pray that I can do so with grace. Right now I don't feel so graceful and feel like I am at the bottom of a dog pile!
I will go on. I will persevere. I will lift my head, eventually.
Thursday, July 27, 2017
COMMITMENT
I hesitate to speak of commitment here since I have not been diligent about writing each day. Not to make excuses but I have had limited amounts of energy and have been having difficulty putting my thoughts together. Hopefully that will improve shortly!
Back to commitment. What is a commitment? Is it the one you make to your spouse when you marry? Of course. Is it the one you make to your employer that you will show up each day? Hopefully. What about when you tell someone that you will get something done; will show up for some event; will pray for them. These absolutely should be.
I have to say that I have not always lived up to this. I have to say that often my health issues have gotten in my way. I have to say that I have let people down in the past. I also have to say that I am doing my best to do a much better job of living up to my commitments. Something else I have learned is to not make a commitment I am unsure I can keep and/or to express that to the person asking. It is okay to say no and also to say maybe.
There are some situation where you must be able to be very clear as to whether or not you can commit and if so, do it. When you tell a friend that you are available to help at anytime or to listen anytime, you need to follow through, you need to take that late night call. If you commit to care for someone that's ill or grieving or whatever, you need to show up. If it's to provide a meal, do your best and deliver. Whatever that need is, you must keep that commitment and give your best.
If you resolve to lose weight and get healthier, that is a commitment to yourself. If you resolve to forgive those that have hurt you, work on it. It's a process not the flipping of a switch. Persevere, pray, and find your way there. It is also a commitment to yourself, not to who you need to forgive. It is very freeing and allows you to look to the future and not the past. If you sign up for a workshop, a committee, the choir, a team, etc., be there. People are counting on you. Again, it will help you in developing a reputation of being dependable.
If you commit to God, pursue Him in all you do. He has already pursued you and will continue to no matter what you do. Give Him the same kind of commitment (as far as is humanly possible). We can never out give Him. If you commit to a relationship with Him, spend time with Him. Talk to Him. Listen to Him. If you say you love Him, let Him love you back. When you do this, you can then share His love with others. Through this and all you do, glorify The Lord. This is the most important commitment of all and in this you can become a true disciple of Christ. The more you love Him, the more of your life you will commit to Him.
If you commit to doing and being the best you you can be in Christ, His love will fill you to the full and carry you through life in both the good and bad times. I have been with Him on the mountaintop and He has been with me in the pit. He has shown His love to me and He has pulled me out of the valley of victimhood. He gives me love, strength, courage and peace!
Deut 6:5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
Now that's commitment!
Back to commitment. What is a commitment? Is it the one you make to your spouse when you marry? Of course. Is it the one you make to your employer that you will show up each day? Hopefully. What about when you tell someone that you will get something done; will show up for some event; will pray for them. These absolutely should be.
I have to say that I have not always lived up to this. I have to say that often my health issues have gotten in my way. I have to say that I have let people down in the past. I also have to say that I am doing my best to do a much better job of living up to my commitments. Something else I have learned is to not make a commitment I am unsure I can keep and/or to express that to the person asking. It is okay to say no and also to say maybe.
There are some situation where you must be able to be very clear as to whether or not you can commit and if so, do it. When you tell a friend that you are available to help at anytime or to listen anytime, you need to follow through, you need to take that late night call. If you commit to care for someone that's ill or grieving or whatever, you need to show up. If it's to provide a meal, do your best and deliver. Whatever that need is, you must keep that commitment and give your best.
If you resolve to lose weight and get healthier, that is a commitment to yourself. If you resolve to forgive those that have hurt you, work on it. It's a process not the flipping of a switch. Persevere, pray, and find your way there. It is also a commitment to yourself, not to who you need to forgive. It is very freeing and allows you to look to the future and not the past. If you sign up for a workshop, a committee, the choir, a team, etc., be there. People are counting on you. Again, it will help you in developing a reputation of being dependable.
If you commit to God, pursue Him in all you do. He has already pursued you and will continue to no matter what you do. Give Him the same kind of commitment (as far as is humanly possible). We can never out give Him. If you commit to a relationship with Him, spend time with Him. Talk to Him. Listen to Him. If you say you love Him, let Him love you back. When you do this, you can then share His love with others. Through this and all you do, glorify The Lord. This is the most important commitment of all and in this you can become a true disciple of Christ. The more you love Him, the more of your life you will commit to Him.
If you commit to doing and being the best you you can be in Christ, His love will fill you to the full and carry you through life in both the good and bad times. I have been with Him on the mountaintop and He has been with me in the pit. He has shown His love to me and He has pulled me out of the valley of victimhood. He gives me love, strength, courage and peace!
Deut 6:5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
Now that's commitment!
Wednesday, July 26, 2017
WHO? WHAT? WHEN? WHERE? WHY?
The last several days, I have been pondering on what it is I needed to say here. I have come up with a lot of different topics, but I will try to pull it together here.
First, I wanted to write about "Being Me"; me with two of my main traits of being passionate and being honest. Many would say too passionate and too honest. But these are what make me "me". When I feel anything, I feel it deeply. If you ask my opinion or advice, you will get my honest opinion, not just what you want to hear. There has been both judgement and appreciation for my intensity and for my truthfulness. Often misunderstood, I have done my best to remain true to who God made me to be.
Second, I wanted to talk about being a Spiritual Being having a Human Experience. Quite frankly, the human side can often be difficult with heartaches, sickness, tragedies, and just the world in general. I would call it "sucky" at times. I would call it downright confusing when things happen that you can possibly understand with human rationality. Something like a four month old getting brain cancer! Impossible! But the spiritual side, is a different story. It is the divine and the sublime. It is the direct connection with one's maker that through all of the confounding, challenging parts of life, gives you strength and peace to carry you through the tough times. It also moves you forward in your journey towards the Creator! It gives you the courage you need to step out in faith and challenge yourself to step out of your box to further the Kingdom of God.
Third, when does one become "old". I used to think that 40 was old. Now I'm 60, so what does that make me. As I get older and more mature, I hope, I realize that you may age physically, but inside you are still the same person. It is just the container that gets dented and rusty. The you inside changes and matures, but it doesn't "age". You are who you are regardless of the numbers of years you have lived.
Just found out that I'm have hypothyroidism. One of the systems, inability to focus. No wonder I have had such a hard time writing. I hope to do a better job in the days to come.
First, I wanted to write about "Being Me"; me with two of my main traits of being passionate and being honest. Many would say too passionate and too honest. But these are what make me "me". When I feel anything, I feel it deeply. If you ask my opinion or advice, you will get my honest opinion, not just what you want to hear. There has been both judgement and appreciation for my intensity and for my truthfulness. Often misunderstood, I have done my best to remain true to who God made me to be.
Second, I wanted to talk about being a Spiritual Being having a Human Experience. Quite frankly, the human side can often be difficult with heartaches, sickness, tragedies, and just the world in general. I would call it "sucky" at times. I would call it downright confusing when things happen that you can possibly understand with human rationality. Something like a four month old getting brain cancer! Impossible! But the spiritual side, is a different story. It is the divine and the sublime. It is the direct connection with one's maker that through all of the confounding, challenging parts of life, gives you strength and peace to carry you through the tough times. It also moves you forward in your journey towards the Creator! It gives you the courage you need to step out in faith and challenge yourself to step out of your box to further the Kingdom of God.
Third, when does one become "old". I used to think that 40 was old. Now I'm 60, so what does that make me. As I get older and more mature, I hope, I realize that you may age physically, but inside you are still the same person. It is just the container that gets dented and rusty. The you inside changes and matures, but it doesn't "age". You are who you are regardless of the numbers of years you have lived.
Just found out that I'm have hypothyroidism. One of the systems, inability to focus. No wonder I have had such a hard time writing. I hope to do a better job in the days to come.
Saturday, July 15, 2017
What About Prayer?
I had a friend ask me a question about prayer that got me to thinking about it. "If God knows everything and has a plan already for your life, what's the point of praying?" Someone said that you shouldn't ask Him for things to work out the way you hope.
Not that I have done extensive research, but I have gone to the experts/ mystics that I know of and look to for direction. Julian of Norwich, Merton, Richard Rohr, Bishop Robert Barron. From some a what they say on prayer, here is my assessment.
Prayer is about a relationship with God, about union with God. He does know all but wants us to come to Him in love with all of our nakedness and vulnerability. We should approach Him with trust knowing that it is all in His hands, but He wants us to share our feelings, our fears, our desires, etc. But we also need to listen and hear Him when He says all will be well because He is in control.
Why would we have petitions in church if we weren’t suppose to petition Him for our needs? Why would we pray to the Blessed Mother if we weren’t suppose to ask for her intercession in our needs? Why do we pray to the saints, if not to get help in getting our prayers answered? Why would we go to one another for intercessory prayer?
I am in conversation with Him all day. Granted I don’t spend enough time in contemplative prayer, but I’m working towards that. Also, why would we go to Him in adoration were it not to lay it all out at His feet? We must first come to Him with trust, thanksgiving, and worship. But we are His children. If prayer to Him about our concerns is what we need, would He deny us? The bible says no, He would not deny us.
Prayer is a very personal thing that is at the core of your relationship with God. I believe that we all need to find our own way to communicate with The Lord and to listen for direction from Him as to if we are getting it right. If you truly go to Him in sincerity of heart, that’s all He wants. To love you and to be loved. He sent Jesus to die for us so that He could be in relationship with us.
Is there so much more to say about prayer? Absolutely. Is there so much more for me to learn about prayer? Definitely! I look forward to that part of my journey and to continuing my conversation with my Father, my Poppa. He places me on His knee for our chats. He wraps His arms around me to comfort me and give me courage. He listens, He speaks. I hear, I trust, I follow. I love Him and He loves me back more than I can fathom. It's all about His love and accepting it and sharing it with others. It's all about relationship!
Pray on people! Your Poppa will listen!
Not that I have done extensive research, but I have gone to the experts/ mystics that I know of and look to for direction. Julian of Norwich, Merton, Richard Rohr, Bishop Robert Barron. From some a what they say on prayer, here is my assessment.
Prayer is about a relationship with God, about union with God. He does know all but wants us to come to Him in love with all of our nakedness and vulnerability. We should approach Him with trust knowing that it is all in His hands, but He wants us to share our feelings, our fears, our desires, etc. But we also need to listen and hear Him when He says all will be well because He is in control.
Why would we have petitions in church if we weren’t suppose to petition Him for our needs? Why would we pray to the Blessed Mother if we weren’t suppose to ask for her intercession in our needs? Why do we pray to the saints, if not to get help in getting our prayers answered? Why would we go to one another for intercessory prayer?
I am in conversation with Him all day. Granted I don’t spend enough time in contemplative prayer, but I’m working towards that. Also, why would we go to Him in adoration were it not to lay it all out at His feet? We must first come to Him with trust, thanksgiving, and worship. But we are His children. If prayer to Him about our concerns is what we need, would He deny us? The bible says no, He would not deny us.
Prayer is a very personal thing that is at the core of your relationship with God. I believe that we all need to find our own way to communicate with The Lord and to listen for direction from Him as to if we are getting it right. If you truly go to Him in sincerity of heart, that’s all He wants. To love you and to be loved. He sent Jesus to die for us so that He could be in relationship with us.
Is there so much more to say about prayer? Absolutely. Is there so much more for me to learn about prayer? Definitely! I look forward to that part of my journey and to continuing my conversation with my Father, my Poppa. He places me on His knee for our chats. He wraps His arms around me to comfort me and give me courage. He listens, He speaks. I hear, I trust, I follow. I love Him and He loves me back more than I can fathom. It's all about His love and accepting it and sharing it with others. It's all about relationship!
Pray on people! Your Poppa will listen!
Thursday, July 13, 2017
Who Am I? Who are you?
Who am I? I am the baby of my family of 4 siblings. Two brother and one sister. I grew up in small towns. I was a good student and went to the local college. I wanted to go away to study music but that was not allowed. I have been singing all my life. It is at the core of who I am. I studied nursing instead but due to my circumstances at the time, I quit, took some business classes and went to work as a secretary, soon to be an office manager.
You see, whatever task I am given, I do it well. It didn't take long for me to be promoted and to quickly become my bosses right hand. After 13 years there I became a purchasing agent elsewhere and left as a procurement coordinator. Should have been a director, but I didn't have a 4 year degree and was of the wrong gender. But I was very good at what I did and was heavily depended upon.
I got married and had 2 step kids that lived with us. I had to be organized to have a full time job and learn how to take care of my immediate family. And I did that too. My husband prospered in his career, my step kids became awesome adults, and I had a good run in my work life before I had to resign due to my health.
When it comes to my health, I was told by my doctor that all of my ailments would not stop me because of my attitude. Growing up I was told I was stubborn. I call it determined. I was told I was different, even strange. I call it unique, special. I was told I was bad, wrong. I call it independent.
I tell you all of this to say this: I am nothing! Yes, I can sing. Yes, I used to be a great dancer. Yes, I can write. Yes, I was able to be a great administrator. Yes, I was able to help raise beautiful children and have been my husband's biggest champion. I have 6 fabulous grandchildren whom I love very much and they love their Nanna. Yes, I have been told that I have the Charisms of Encouragement and Evangelization and am a natural spiritual advisor. But none of this is of me.
Without God, I have nothing, I am nothing! Every breath I breathe, every step I take, every gift or talent that I have comes from Him. He planned me. He created me. He has been with me every moment of every day. He has taught me, He has healed me, He has given me peace. And of course, He has given me Jesus' example to follow and the Holy Spirit to enable me to accomplish this along the road of my journey toward's Him.
He has numbered the hairs on my head to the days of my life. I am nothing without Him, but.............I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Phil 4:13.
I AM HIS AND SO ARE YOU!
You see, whatever task I am given, I do it well. It didn't take long for me to be promoted and to quickly become my bosses right hand. After 13 years there I became a purchasing agent elsewhere and left as a procurement coordinator. Should have been a director, but I didn't have a 4 year degree and was of the wrong gender. But I was very good at what I did and was heavily depended upon.
I got married and had 2 step kids that lived with us. I had to be organized to have a full time job and learn how to take care of my immediate family. And I did that too. My husband prospered in his career, my step kids became awesome adults, and I had a good run in my work life before I had to resign due to my health.
When it comes to my health, I was told by my doctor that all of my ailments would not stop me because of my attitude. Growing up I was told I was stubborn. I call it determined. I was told I was different, even strange. I call it unique, special. I was told I was bad, wrong. I call it independent.
I tell you all of this to say this: I am nothing! Yes, I can sing. Yes, I used to be a great dancer. Yes, I can write. Yes, I was able to be a great administrator. Yes, I was able to help raise beautiful children and have been my husband's biggest champion. I have 6 fabulous grandchildren whom I love very much and they love their Nanna. Yes, I have been told that I have the Charisms of Encouragement and Evangelization and am a natural spiritual advisor. But none of this is of me.
Without God, I have nothing, I am nothing! Every breath I breathe, every step I take, every gift or talent that I have comes from Him. He planned me. He created me. He has been with me every moment of every day. He has taught me, He has healed me, He has given me peace. And of course, He has given me Jesus' example to follow and the Holy Spirit to enable me to accomplish this along the road of my journey toward's Him.
He has numbered the hairs on my head to the days of my life. I am nothing without Him, but.............I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Phil 4:13.
I AM HIS AND SO ARE YOU!
Tuesday, July 11, 2017
Grace, Not Perfection
I have a t-shirt that says, I operate under grace not perfection. Yesterday, I had it on and a young woman commented on it. It seems she had heard something similar at church the day before. We talked about it and I told her, "It's just about showing others the love of Jesus, not be perfect." She said that she needed to hear that and that she would take it as a Word from God. That's exactly what it was. I thought to say other things but The Lord told me it's just about the love.
So many of us have set standards for ourselves that God has not set for us. Yes, there are things that we are supposed to do and not do. But all of these should come out of our love for Him. Not because we have to do it to earn His love or a ticket to heaven. The more we learn about Jesus Christ, the more we fall in love with Him. The more we fall in love with Him, the more we want to serve Him by doing the right things and sharing His love with others.
It is by grace that we are able to accomplish these things. Grace is the gift that keeps on giving. It is gifted to us by The Lord anytime we pray. It is gifted to us whenever we go to church to worship Him. It is gifted to us when we hear His voice and follow His will. As a Catholic, I believe that I receive an abundance of graces from going to reconciliation and receiving eucharist. Graces that enable us to grow in our understanding of what is required of us on our journey. Grace that enables us to love Him more. Grace to love others more.
Grace also can enable us to be more in sync with the Holy Spirit that lives within each of us. Being able to go to Him and hear His voice and follow His direction. Grace can open our eyes to see the needs of those we encounter on a daily basis and give us the courage to reach out to them. Grace gives us the right words to say and the right things to do.
All of us have our struggles and sometimes just acknowledging that in the other helps. Sharing a word of love, compassion, understanding. Giving that much needed pat on the hand, squeeze of the shoulder, or a sincerely loving hug. Grace can provide us with the deep well of love that comes from The Lord that we always have to give to others.
This is what it's all about. Not being perfect. It is all about love. Loving The Lord with all your heart, mind, and soul and loving one another as He has loved us. He died for us so that we might live and have life abundantly. He did not die for us to walk on eggshells trying to be perfect. He was, is, and will always be the only perfection. His sacrifice has given us this gift of life and of love. His love for us and our love for Him give us the grace that we need to live to serve Him and in turn, serve others.
So don't beat yourself up if you aren't perfect, if you stumble, even if you fall. He is there to pick you up, fill you with grace, and to help you to do better next time. Life is not a test. It's a journey towards a life with Him for eternity. Oh Happy Day!
So many of us have set standards for ourselves that God has not set for us. Yes, there are things that we are supposed to do and not do. But all of these should come out of our love for Him. Not because we have to do it to earn His love or a ticket to heaven. The more we learn about Jesus Christ, the more we fall in love with Him. The more we fall in love with Him, the more we want to serve Him by doing the right things and sharing His love with others.
It is by grace that we are able to accomplish these things. Grace is the gift that keeps on giving. It is gifted to us by The Lord anytime we pray. It is gifted to us whenever we go to church to worship Him. It is gifted to us when we hear His voice and follow His will. As a Catholic, I believe that I receive an abundance of graces from going to reconciliation and receiving eucharist. Graces that enable us to grow in our understanding of what is required of us on our journey. Grace that enables us to love Him more. Grace to love others more.
Grace also can enable us to be more in sync with the Holy Spirit that lives within each of us. Being able to go to Him and hear His voice and follow His direction. Grace can open our eyes to see the needs of those we encounter on a daily basis and give us the courage to reach out to them. Grace gives us the right words to say and the right things to do.
All of us have our struggles and sometimes just acknowledging that in the other helps. Sharing a word of love, compassion, understanding. Giving that much needed pat on the hand, squeeze of the shoulder, or a sincerely loving hug. Grace can provide us with the deep well of love that comes from The Lord that we always have to give to others.
This is what it's all about. Not being perfect. It is all about love. Loving The Lord with all your heart, mind, and soul and loving one another as He has loved us. He died for us so that we might live and have life abundantly. He did not die for us to walk on eggshells trying to be perfect. He was, is, and will always be the only perfection. His sacrifice has given us this gift of life and of love. His love for us and our love for Him give us the grace that we need to live to serve Him and in turn, serve others.
So don't beat yourself up if you aren't perfect, if you stumble, even if you fall. He is there to pick you up, fill you with grace, and to help you to do better next time. Life is not a test. It's a journey towards a life with Him for eternity. Oh Happy Day!
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