Read Health Chronicles—Journey of the Uninsured (Part I)

Pain can make you cranky. . . at least for me. Yesterday I shared details of my health update with a family friend. He said that he, too, has been dealing with similar symptoms—namely rectal pain. He, like me, had not shared his situation with others. It’s not exactly a pleasant one. He said it makes you not want to eat {for obvious reasons}. I understand.

There are days when I will  push through and power on like those e-cards talk about. Then there are days when I am pretty much out of commission. Those days are spent primarily in bed with a heating pad turned on and back off countless times. I try to use the time as an opportunity to work on writing projects. But that often comes after a couple of days. Pain can also make you depressed . . . at least for me. It’s not always the case. And it’s not necessarily always the pain itself. For me, it’s often the idea that I am stuck, unable to help my family with daily activities. I generally reach a point where I push myself and carry on with my daily routine. It’s frustrating to say the least.

But throughout this process I’ve learned quite a lot. I’m still learning.

I have a friend who has been battling an illness. She, too, is believing God for her healing. I’m standing with her. When it comes to our trials in this life, we don’t all respond the same with what we let others know. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Some people are very private and will not likely open up about their life issues beyond close friendship. Others will happily discuss theirs in great detail. There’s a balance to be found in this for all of us. We were made for relationship with our Creator and we were made for relationship with our fellow Believers. It’s what the Body of Christ is all about. We will only find help to the extent that we reach out and share our life’s issues. At the same time, there are some details not meant to be shared. Finding that balance comes through the Word and the Spirit of God. And I often miss it.

In our world of social media it’s all too easy for us to feed our emotions. I willingly admit this can be the case for me. It can be a great source of help and connection and an opportunity to bind together in unity. Or it can stir up emotion. Sounds a lot to me like life, only magnified.

I’m learning that we, the Body of Christ, need each other. And I am astounded that our LORD uses us in spite of us. If nothing else, throughout this journey I’m learning more about compassion. I’m learning that the best thing I can do for myself or for anyone else—for our LORD—is to receive from Him the grace He died to give. I’m learning that the more I receive His love, the more I believe His love, the more I’m able to extend the same to others. Our journeys are not all the same. Yet the answer to our needs is the love of Jesus Christ.

My emotions run high on days like today. It’s easy to feel helpless and discouraged. At day’s end, I still find that I run back to the love of Christ and find a grace that never ends drowning it all away. And always, always, somehow His compassion shows up. Most often, it’s through His Body. Just like He intended.

And I’m reminded to return grace often . . . as I often need it returned to me.

Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. ~ Galatians 6:2 KJV

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