As a Hurricane Sandy survivor, it's easy to feel sorry for one's self. I did, for a couple of hours. It's easy to forget. To lose one's perspective, by forgetting those who lost much more, or most, or all of everything they had.
We didn't have power for 92 hours, which broke our personal best of 44 hours from Hurricane Irene last year. Well, there are still those whose record meters are still running, and those whose record will never have an end to. No power, no house, no things. It's hard to imagine a bounce back like that for me, the only comfort I have as an "other" not in that position, is to know it has been done many times before, some how, some way. My hope is those who've met more devastation than I come to see it that way soon.
As horrible as this event seems to me, I realized this all pales in comparison to what severely disabled people go through each day, for the rest of their lives. This brings me to a favorite fellow blogger, Laurie Carlson, whose site is linked below.
Have you ever heard of "Stiff Person Syndrome?"
Visit her site. Look at the ledger of things she can't do, and what sheer Will enables her to do.
If you're so inclined, include Laurie in your prayers, as I have, and let her remind you that no storm, or whatever the cause of a temporary or permanent disability, can affect your Spirit, only your mind if you let it.
To those of you in the Rutgers community, we have Eric Legrand to inspire us, and now, please include Laurie in our orbit of stars who we won't let fall.
Hi John!
ReplyDeleteI saw your message so LATE last night on Goodreads that you had mentioned me. It had to be well after midnight, if not much later than that! It was probably after about 3:00am, as I am often up late. I wondered what it was you could have possibly written? I did go vote today, and then I have been watching Election News Reports, (a little nap in between there!) but then I HAD to come over here to see what you were talking about, the FIRST chance I had!
Wow! I had NO CLUE you wrote about me! How flattering, thoughtful, and kind of you to first mention me, and then to bring awareness to a little known disease called Stiff Person Syndrome, of which I cannot thank you enough for doing so. It is so little known, that doctors and nurses both have NEVER heard of this disease. They have literally had to go to the Internet to look it up!
Wow! I am speechless, but to say THANK YOU! Thank you SO much for your wonderful prayers, too! I'll always accept those! Thank you!
No, this disease is NOT an easy one to live with as it does impose itself into/onto everything I try to do, even to not being able to sleep in a bed like a normal person can. It causes severe, incapacitating muscle spasms. All I can do is accept the disease for what it is, but also try to do something enjoyable, (as I do my book blog which has been my saving grace!) No, there is no cure for this disease, either. Scientists do not know what causes this, either. I am literally one in one MILLION people who get this unbelievable disease.
No, daily life is not easy, but I have found, as you have mentioned, that it IS our "minds" that keep us positive and most importantly, happy, despite what we may have to live with.
I have to give author Joni Erickson Tada ALL of the credit for being the person I am today. She is a paraplegic woman who has authored countless books and has lived a very full, rich, married life, too, despite her disability! She is my "full" inspiration for living a positive life. I would like to share one of her favorite quotes/bible verses that has become one of my own favorites as well. This is what has kept me going and being as positive as I try to be.
It is Paul writing from 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. It says: To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
How humbling, huh?
Thank YOU, John, for writing about me! I feel so honored!
I would also like to wish ALL of you in New Jersey who have been hit by Hurricane Sandy, that you recover 100 fold and MORE, from this disaster! I've said many prayers for ALL of you, daily. I can only imagine the disaster and what you have to do to get everything cleaned up and back to somewhat of a normal life.
I continue sending prayers your way to recover, and to recover quickly.
I wish you ALL the BEST!
John, thank you again, so very much! You are a wonderful person! YOU are inspiring! I LOVE your blog! I wish you nothing but the absolute BEST, and let's keep on being GREAT friends!
Laurie
Hi John!
ReplyDeleteI could not fit this in my reply, as it went too long. I wanted to mention that you are a VERY special person, with a very HUGE heart!
To have written about me is such a special thing!
I am SO GLAD I met you on Goodreads!
I have something up my sleeve for you, and when it is ALL DONE, I will let you know!
Laurie
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