In 1980 I wobbled with the help of two others into a pizza restaurant.
A burly young man taunted, "What's a matter with her? Is she drunk?" loud enough for the entire clientele to turn and look at me.
Hot tears of embarrasment stung my eyes. I wanted to disappear. I had used others' arms because my balance was so poor I feared I would look drunk, and now I'd been accused of it.
At that time my symptoms of multiple sclerosis were invisible to others. Or so I thought until this accusation.
In 1981 I was told to walk with forearm crutches to protect myself from falling and to give myself better coordination, and I have used them ever since.
There are many illnesses whose symptoms are invisible, MS being one of them for many people. Especially the fatigue most of us endure. I'd like to draw your attention to an upcoming week that I have taken part in for the past two years. It's called National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week and it is this coming September 8-14. There you can find all kinds of telephone seminars, blog posts, freebies, events, and networking with people who understand the invisibleness of symptoms you may have.
I'll be saying more about that in the future, but for now, invisible is not always better!
Have a wonderful day!
Jo
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Olympics Beauty?
Enjoying the Olympics? We are. But what about the confession by the Chinese that the child singer "wasn't pretty enough" to be included in the opening ceremony, she had to lip synch for the one who appeared.
I was appalled.
I think both of the little girls are beautiful. How tragic for the one who really sang to be told this.
Women have enough difficulties feeling beautiful. And children and teens must be carefully encouraged these days to sense their own uniqueness when comparisons are constantly made through the media. When perfection is so touted. When you must be this or that to be accepted.
I want our granddaughter who is nine to know that she is so precious just as she is, and that she doesn't need to meet any standard of beauty. I had to teach myself to feel good about what I looked like and I want to build that in her so Calysta doesn't need to!
God created us and he knew what form we would take while we were in the womb according to Psalm 139! "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."
God doesn't create junk as someone said years ago!
You are beautiful . . .
Jo
I was appalled.
I think both of the little girls are beautiful. How tragic for the one who really sang to be told this.
Women have enough difficulties feeling beautiful. And children and teens must be carefully encouraged these days to sense their own uniqueness when comparisons are constantly made through the media. When perfection is so touted. When you must be this or that to be accepted.
I want our granddaughter who is nine to know that she is so precious just as she is, and that she doesn't need to meet any standard of beauty. I had to teach myself to feel good about what I looked like and I want to build that in her so Calysta doesn't need to!
God created us and he knew what form we would take while we were in the womb according to Psalm 139! "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."
God doesn't create junk as someone said years ago!
You are beautiful . . .
Jo
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Leaping Joyfully
A doe and her fawn graced our backyard last week. The mother nuzzled her baby, licking her face and side. There was such tenderness in that moment. We never cease to feel joy when we get to watch God's wonderous creatures.
It brought to mind the time a doe munched on the blackberries at the back of our property. She literally jumped straight up in the air, kicking her back feet in order to grasp the ripe berries on the top branches! The doe resembled our cat more than a deer!
As I am overcoming this health crisis one day at a time I too am leaping joyfully. I enjoy the taste of lime tortilla chips one at a time. As I let the lime settle slowly into my taste buds on my tongue I close my eyes to enjoy the tangy delight.
Homeade root beer floats with foam upper lips make me laugh.
Bunnies in the yard munching green grass bring a smile to my face. And the shades of colors in the shrubbery and trees are vibrant and alive, causing my heart to swell with pleasure.
The anticipation of our daughter Lins bringing her family to visit in a few weeks floods me with joy and I feel a leap in my spirit to recover quickly! (Of course I've never been one to let the MS keep me down. I am exercising to regain my strength anyway.) I think about seeing nine year old Calysta, four year old Maycn and eigth month old Ryenn for the first time and I just grin.
I am looking forward to keeping speaking engagements this fall and traveling to Lagos, Nigeria to speak. The blessing of doing what I love brings another leap of joy in my heart.
The Bible says "The Soverign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights" (Habakkuk 3:19). With God you and I can leap joyfully no matter what happens as we lean into his strength and trust him.
I hope you are leaping this week!
Jo
It brought to mind the time a doe munched on the blackberries at the back of our property. She literally jumped straight up in the air, kicking her back feet in order to grasp the ripe berries on the top branches! The doe resembled our cat more than a deer!
As I am overcoming this health crisis one day at a time I too am leaping joyfully. I enjoy the taste of lime tortilla chips one at a time. As I let the lime settle slowly into my taste buds on my tongue I close my eyes to enjoy the tangy delight.
Homeade root beer floats with foam upper lips make me laugh.
Bunnies in the yard munching green grass bring a smile to my face. And the shades of colors in the shrubbery and trees are vibrant and alive, causing my heart to swell with pleasure.
The anticipation of our daughter Lins bringing her family to visit in a few weeks floods me with joy and I feel a leap in my spirit to recover quickly! (Of course I've never been one to let the MS keep me down. I am exercising to regain my strength anyway.) I think about seeing nine year old Calysta, four year old Maycn and eigth month old Ryenn for the first time and I just grin.
I am looking forward to keeping speaking engagements this fall and traveling to Lagos, Nigeria to speak. The blessing of doing what I love brings another leap of joy in my heart.
The Bible says "The Soverign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights" (Habakkuk 3:19). With God you and I can leap joyfully no matter what happens as we lean into his strength and trust him.
I hope you are leaping this week!
Jo
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