OT: Dealing with a Chronic Illness during the Holidays

[quote="Breathe Jimbo"]The meaning of Christmas was revealed in John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." Chronic illness is temporary; eternal life is forever.[/quot

Thanks so very much,I try to always live by those words.
GOD BLESS YOU!!!

The thing with illness during the holidays is that it is a chance for others to give instead of receive.
Most of us are parents and we have spent most of our adult lives giving and making things special for our children and others. Thi is an opertunity to allow others to do this for us. It is really difficult to give up control of the family traditions but it can be very moving for the "children" to "catch the torch".

Learning to receive gracefully is also a challenge I am still working on.

John, Best wishes and thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing your wisdom and experience here. Can I print your message and keep it posted at home to read every day as a reminder? Not every day is a holiday, but every day of life renewed is a Gift.
Best of Holidays
Cindy

Cindy Lou Who wrote:... Can I print your message and keep it posted at home to read every day as a reminder? Not every day is a holiday, but every day of life renewed is a Gift. ...

Thank you (and everyone) for the holiday wishes. My wife and I had a wonderful day together!

And please feel free to use my message as you will. Spread it onto others. I wish I could tell you it was entirely my own. But I've read and tried to learn from others. This is just my own way of expressing my own struggles.

What you see is my effort to deal with the conflict between "Wisdom Literature" and reality. The Wisdom Literature (within the Bible) essentially says that if you are a moral and just person, who follows God, then all will be well. And you will sometimes hear people express those thoughts: "I wonder what they did to have such an awful thing happen to them...". In fact, none of us "deserve" good things. We've all done things to hurt others and ourselves. But neither do we "deserve" the bad things which happen to us.

Instead, regardless of good or bad, it is what we do with these blessings (good or bad) that makes us who we are. One person might face hardly any adversity, yet become a "Scrooge". Others might face horrible situations, yet finally sing out: "Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me!". It is indeed a real story:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazing_Grace

No, we are not defined by our circumstances. Rather we are defined by what we do with those circumstances. I personally choose to rail against the night. I fight against chaos. I sing out the joys we can find, in spite of our circumstances.

I've often been accused of being an optimist. Exactly! Often I don't accomplish what I would like. But by aiming high, I generally reach far beyond my normal reach.

Marietjie wrote:Thanks John! Love and Blessings to you and your family on this special day - XMAS!

JohnBFisher wrote:This can be a season of blessing when you have a Chronic Illness. It can be a chance to discover deeper meanings. The chance to anticipate, reflect and rejoice in our blessings.May God's Grace and Peace fill you in all that you do.

Our Xmas plans changed overnight. Husband is in hospital after an emergency leg bypass operation
and I am alone with our pet budgie.
To see and feel the love of the caring doctors and nursing staff is a blessing. They are angels.
André now suffers from atheroclerosis (hardening of the arteries) associated with Rhumatoid Arthritis.
When André is back home and walking again, we must change our lifestyle and make more time
for each other.

I hope for a speedy recovery and many happy days together. I'll always remember your kindness to me.

DoriC wrote:I hope for a speedy recovery and many happy days together

Thank you very much, Dori - It is going to be very hard to change old habits - we are both always
busy cleaning and repairing in and out the house. André first got to get well before we can go for an
outing. We used to go for a drive every weekend but for the last 7 months it was impossible.
He had SO MUCH pain and the last few weeks he was mostly in bed. Because of no blood flow
in his right foot he developed ulcers. We are praying that this bypass surgery will be a 100% success
for the ulcers to heal. It is very difficult to stay optimistic - because I know what is coming!
We will have to live everyday to the fullest.

JohnBFisher wrote:But neither do we "deserve" the bad things which happen to us.

Thanks again, John - I will remember your words. There is still hope.

DoriC wrote:I'll always remember your kindness to me

A little bit of kindness to a kind lady ! You're welcome ! Love & hugs to you