tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29308661.post4073221245746937551..comments2023-05-14T08:06:41.594-05:00Comments on Creating My Own Little Nirvana: Finding the Silver Lining In Our SufferingKerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04886116438383281567noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29308661.post-20275480858967366042011-01-30T21:57:02.220-05:002011-01-30T21:57:02.220-05:00I've often joked that if I did not suffer from...I've often joked that if I did not suffer from alcoholism, I'd just be (pardon the language) "an asshole without an excuse." But what I really mean in that tossed-off joke is that I would be an arrogant, egotistical, angry, frustrated, frightened person with no need to get on my knees and ask for help. It probably would not occur to me. This horrid weakness and deadly problem has probably kept me alive in many ways, and kinder than I would normally be...and I'm often not too kind, I'm afraid :-( I am impatient. I am quick to judge. I am also quick to correct myself and know I'm "thinking wrong" and try to take a breather. <br /><br />A friend of mine is going through physical hell right now. She had a kitchen accident that left her with a swollen eye and bone break in her shoulder. She cannot do anything for herself - not anything, if you catch my drift, and she is learning how to rely on others for the most basic needs. Now, this cannot happen to me - God knows we do not have the resources to handle such a situation, and He has many ways to teach me similar lessons without tearing my family apart. I don't say it to my friend, but I do pray for whatever wonderful lesson she is going to learn during this terrible, holy time. Because I do believe a great and wondrous opportunity is there. So, what is it? I pray :-) I do not know who I would be without the hellish road of alcoholism, and I actually would rather not find out. I do not think I'd like the results. <br /><br />But we take what we are given and we have a choice. Even with God prodding us one way, we always have a choice to buck the lesson and the gift in favor of anger and bitterness. Huh. I'm still doing that in an area or two of my life. <br /><br />All I know is: without my broken weakness, God would have no opportunity to display His goodness, greatness, and glory (even in the tiny ways they show though in my shadowed life.) And when I am clear-sighted and clear-eyed and open-eared to perceive it, it's worth all the riches and comforts I can imagine. XOXOXOXOLeighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14618958668181174107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29308661.post-65536194200039303282011-01-29T22:30:56.985-05:002011-01-29T22:30:56.985-05:00Keri:
God well knows the pain and fatigue and anx...Keri: <br />God well knows the pain and fatigue and anxiety that you suffer with your disease yet He is with you every step of the way. It sounds trite but it is true: God does not give you anything you can not manage, with His help. He has burdened your heart for the needs of children in Russian orphanages. What you have seen is seared in your mind forever. He did not do this to torment you, nor did He allow you an illness that would strip your strength without a reason. Your illness forces you to rely on HIM for your strength and direction. The gift of knowledge He gave you makes YOU the perfect person to raise awareness of these children who will never have a chance for a permanent family without your help. HE will be your strength as you plan to establish a permanent settlement in Russia to help heal the minds and souls of these children so desperately seeking a family and belonging of their own. Your weakness is HIS strength, your relinquishment of self desire for HIS desire......all will lead to a successful achievement of all that you desire to make a lasting, positive life altering change for your children. You WILL succeed in identifying children that are available and ready for adoption. You WILL work with those children who need education and love and security to be ready to meet and interact with people who might be their forever families. Your labor of love will result in MANY children finding a family or sponsor to allow them the grace to grow within a family. When you ar tired, you tell us so we can lift you up in prayer. When you need something intrinsic, you tell use so was can put out calls for the very things you need. You are not alone in this dream. Many of us can not move to Russia and support children ready to age out or identify which children would be best suited for the summer foster hosting program here in the states. But many of us can tell you the age/sex of a child we would like to host and commit to getting the program going, with the benefit of attempting to match a child with a particular family profile (2 kids, 1 dog, 1 cat)Cathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05658990795703046615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29308661.post-32580806140789133702011-01-28T09:21:18.777-05:002011-01-28T09:21:18.777-05:00'Thinking of you and hoping you soon feel bett...'Thinking of you and hoping you soon feel better. (((hugs)))<br />Maria (Canada)MariaGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09701753924118367672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29308661.post-20875176086323498362011-01-27T22:22:44.772-05:002011-01-27T22:22:44.772-05:00Thank you for this reminder to look for the positi...Thank you for this reminder to look for the positive - especially in the midst of your own health issues.Mama Drama Times Twohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04935810256080795505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29308661.post-20555860656935879602011-01-27T17:59:37.848-05:002011-01-27T17:59:37.848-05:00Are you having a relapse? My prayers are on you! W...Are you having a relapse? My prayers are on you! We all love you! <3Bridgethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16122213565110581464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29308661.post-52626284623511179912011-01-27T17:04:25.190-05:002011-01-27T17:04:25.190-05:00What a good thing for everyone to remember. Hope y...What a good thing for everyone to remember. Hope you are feeling much better soon.Mohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13410629269669174276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29308661.post-58233076942355266072011-01-27T16:51:55.280-05:002011-01-27T16:51:55.280-05:00God bless youGod bless youLaurihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01734353279885248086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29308661.post-58109882938069541382011-01-27T16:14:30.961-05:002011-01-27T16:14:30.961-05:00I have other friends with RA (my maid of honor for...I have other friends with RA (my maid of honor for example), but you are the only one who has been able to see a silver lining. I think God's purpose may have been two-fold - the condition teaches you important lessons, while your ability to communicate with others teaches us as well. Your suffering is not weakness at all - it is a source of great strength, just not the physical kind.Skydancerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13242784687833357071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29308661.post-46172274459751734172011-01-27T16:10:07.995-05:002011-01-27T16:10:07.995-05:00Jamie said it all, praying for youJamie said it all, praying for youAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00920831144240024660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29308661.post-29574724694875242582011-01-27T15:28:27.304-05:002011-01-27T15:28:27.304-05:00Oh, yeah, here's the link for the movie:
http:...Oh, yeah, here's the link for the movie:<br />http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/The_Song_of_Bernadette/60011367?trkid=2361637#height2226Jamie Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17678469484585027738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29308661.post-2077618158512940282011-01-27T15:26:06.595-05:002011-01-27T15:26:06.595-05:00Have you ever seen the movie "Song of Bernade...Have you ever seen the movie "Song of Bernadette"?<br /><br />It's about St Bernadette and Our Lady of Lourdes.<br /><br />Very very good movie. Anyway, you remind me of her, she was in a convent for years and silently suffering, a nun who was mean to her from her childhood right into adulthood, never believed her and thought she was an attention seeker. Then, when she was dying (St Bernadette), the older nun found out she had been suffering and in immense pain for many years. She then, if I'm remembering right, was at her side and knew she was in the presence of a saint.<br /><br />Makes me want to go watch it right now!<br /><br />Thinking and praying for you and the patience of others.<br /><br />Sometimes I think the suffering is for others, not ourselves. It is for us to endure and offer up to our Lord, but for others to learn from and themselves grow closer to our Lord.<br /><br />Did any of that make sense?Jamie Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17678469484585027738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29308661.post-49000957569406168552011-01-27T15:20:58.057-05:002011-01-27T15:20:58.057-05:00Keri! You do more in a month than most people do ...Keri! You do more in a month than most people do in a lifetime! Take it easy, recharge your batteries! If you don't take care of yourself, how can you help kids! Sometimes a break is a wise and necessary part of a ferocious advocate's game plan!<br /><br />Love,<br />MoMaureenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06448903533117564256noreply@blogger.com