Suffering is a BEAR

I am usually a pretty private person, perhaps even to a flaw. I may show the world the outside, but rarely do I open the doors within. Just yesterday I started a blog. I cannot tell you with any great certainty where the Lord will lead me on this blog, but I have taken the first step to what may be the shortest blog in history, or the longest (personal) journey ever. It is not so important to me where the blog leads or where the blog takes me; what is important is that this blog become an opportunity to share how the Lord has worked in me and through me, especially in the area of health issues, and that people who see me, and hear me today, not see me, but Christ in me. He has taught me so much through this journey, a journey of ups and downs, of victories and triumphs over sickness, and how He has taught me to praise Him in good times and bad, and raised me to walk in His power, His name, in newness of life, and how He is still working on me some 10 years after my Fibro diagnosis.

My health issues have been complex, and it has been Only By His Grace that I have survived, so it is therefore, a blog dedicated to Him, and to His goodness, and to what He has done for me. If this blog-site would be of help to anyone you know that suffers from health issues such as mine, feel free to pass it along with the hope that it may bring some direction or help their way. God has done amazing things for me, and I know without a doubt that He is waiting to do the same for those that will call upon His name. My story is not unique, but it it personal, and all the details may not be relevant to others, yet... I know that there have been similarities in the stories of others that also suffer with Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, HBP, Hypothyroidism, disc injuries, Hietal hernia, and a few minor complications. Some of these health issues are often found grouped together, such as Fibro & CFS. Even Thyroid dysfunction can be considered as a common subgroup by which Fibromyalgia patients fall into. This does not allow medical researchers to understand the syndrome itself any better, at least not from what I have read and been told, but it does help to some degree, to identify those that may be within its stereo-type. My high blood pressure issues also stem from the Fibro... ever since I started suffering from severe episodes of pain, my BP started increasing. I am sure that there are other factors involved, but I did not have a problem with HBP at all before I began suffering from Fibro.

Suffering... that is exactly what it is. If you see someone that always looks sad, someone that can never be clear eyed or happy... they could be suffering with a health issue. They may not be the downer you always thought they were... they might be struggling with each step they take. That is one of the first lessons I learned as a Fibro-pain sufferer. I learned that it was difficult to be around people. When you feel like crying all the time, all you really feel like doing is crying... not laughing, not listening, not sitting... definitely not standing... after all, your entire core is shot. It is just plain missing. I sang for years, and then all of a sudden realized I couldn't sing anymore... my core-being was gone. I would stand to sing and there was nothing... absolutely nothing inside. I was void of strength and it was terrible. It took me quite some time to learn how to deal with what was happening to me, and I learned some important things about life and struggles, and I learned to look at people differently.

I learned that there are people around me suffering, struggling, all with silent issues, things we do not know or understand. Take a minute to do a self-check on that point. Do you walk around assuming that everyone is fine, that everyone has your health, your energy, etc? Well, it may be a really bad assumption... so consider the people you meet, consider the one you are with. Make a mental note now, if you haven't before this time, pain is a BEAR! If you are one of those LUCKY one's that get to carry it... God help you, but if you are one of the ones that gets to be around someone that is suffering, realize what a huge burden pain is to bear. Think about their countenance... is their sadness related to pain? If it is, show some concern, show support, give them a gentle hug, and remember to pray. Pray with them and for them, and by all means, do not think badly of them. This is not a mental disorder; it is truly a physical disorder, syndrome, whatever... Take the time to care. Sure suffering people can be more trouble than non-suffering, but they need you to care, and... they are truly worth it.

From a value point of view... those that experience a great deal of suffering can find a connection with Christ that might never have been realized if it hadn't been for pain. God has brought me through this journey... He didn't take the problem from me, but He did what He promised to do, He has taken me through... and we are still on the journey. If there is nothing else that you remember from what I have shared, please remember that there is hope for those that are suffering, hope is always possible if we want it badly enough. Never stop trying to give hope to others; never stop holding on to hope for yourself, but remember it's Only By His Grace... until the next time.