Every day is a blessing from God

By Erika Rizkallah (reposted from www.erikarizkallah.com)

"Every day I feel is a blessing from God. And I consider it a new beginning. Yeah, everything is beautiful." Prince

2015 was a hard year for me - filled with physical, mental and emotional challenges. I can't remember how it began but it's fresh enough to remember how it ended.

November and December was like a slow moving hurricane whirling off the coast toward a direct hit on my home.

Last year my husband and I decided it was time to renovate our highly outdated house. We've been wanting to remodel certain areas; get rid of the mirrored backsplash in the kitchen, replace broken appliances and get rid of the gold fixtures in the guest bathroom.

But you know how those things go. Once you decide to change certain  areas, you may as well go big and do it right. So what started out as a simple kitchen/bathroom remodel turned into a full scale renovation of our middle and upper levels.

There were many disagreements between us along the way. Multiple meetings with the contractor and interior designer that came with the job. And packing up EVERYTHING. This was no easy feat for someone suffering from chronic pain, but I did it (for the most part). In order to give the contractor a good start we decided to take a trip so we left the country for two weeks and spent time visiting family in Dubai.

And we came back from this life-changing vacation to this . . .

Just like a man . . . the tv stays

Goodbye kitchen

My favorite room in the house - our heritage room

So that's where I've "been" - metaphorically and physically speaking - and I have so many new things to share with you in 2016.

I've resolved that this year will be different - I'm saying goodbye to the physical, mental and emotional challenges of last year. And even though I'm living in a literal mess, I agree with Prince's assessment that each day is a blessing from God and yeah, everything is beautiful.

Does our suffering draw us closer to Christ?

By Erika Rizkallah

This morning in my quiet time readings, I was led once again to passages in the Bible about suffering.  

Do you ever ask, "Why me?" 

I do and the plain answer is I don't know and maybe I never will. Strangely, I'm ok with that. If we spend too much time reflecting about the internal and external reasons for it, we can find ourselves in the midst of an epic pity party.

This can turn all our thoughts inward as opposed to better questions like What can I do with this Lord? How do I glorify you with it?

In the Greek language the word for suffering is pascho, which also means endure. It's a verb and is used 42 times in the New Testament. The short answer in both the Old and New Testaments is that suffering improves character.

I love how Oswald Chambers approaches the subject in the devotional My Utmost For His Highest.

He says, "How can we say, 'It could never be God's will for me to be sick'? If it was God's will to bruise His own Son (Isaiah 53:10), why shouldn't he bruise you? What shines forth and reveals God in your life is not your relative consistency to an idea of what a saint should be, but your genuine, living relationship with Jesus Christ, and your unrestrained devotion to Him whether you are well or sick."

How do you feel about that? Can you identify ways in which your suffering has improved your character or drawn you closer to Christ?

Struggling with Sugar Addiction

I think I've mentioned somewhere on this blog before that I have a serious sweet tooth. I blame it on my husband. When I was a kid, I wasn't allowed to eat many sweets. Eating dessert wasn't a regular thing in our house so as a young adult I didn't eat much sugar. 

It all changed when I met my new boyfriend. He was (and still is) a foodie but I could pop open a can of cold green beans and call it dinner. When we started dating he was determined to "teach me how to eat right." His teaching included eating sweets with every meal - even breakfast!

Eventually we married and one unintended consequence of that union resulted in an insatiable appetite for sugar. Although I'm not a diabetic, I have terrible nerve pain in my feet and my gut tells me sugar is the culprit. I know I desperately need to go sugar free but I'm nervous about it; now I can't picture life without it. 

As most of us know by now, sugar is in almost everything. In fact, there's a great movie produced by Katie Couric and Laurie David, called Fed Up, which really opened my eyes to America's sugar problem. It explains how our obsession and addiction to sugar started. I watched it on Netflix and  highly recommend it if you're interested in the subject. 

As I age, another unintended consequence is weight gain. It wasn't a problem for me until recently, when my doctors made a medication change. Some of the side effects include weight gain and boy oh boy . . . my weight gain is that of a small child.

For the past four months I've been wearing workout gear and it ain't because I'm working out. It's because the only thing I can squeeze into was spandex. What a depressing summer! Although I live at the beach and have a pool in my backyard I've been so uncomfortable in my own skin I haven't wanted to reveal that much of myself to the world.

So I'm going to do it. I'm committing now to reducing my sugar intake slowly over the rest of this year. Slowly because sugar is so addictive I would probably ruin my family relationships otherwise. Again, I blame it on my husband (a lovable Arab) who only wanted to teach his girl about his culture and the sweet life. 

Click here to read about the Arab influence on the history of sugar - it's fascinating!

Now You: Do you struggle with sugar addiction? Can you give me any suggestions to make this easier? 

Midnight Ministry: Hearing God in the storms of life

The last few weeks were filled with ups and downs, highs and lows. 

First I had a terrible flare. It was painful to move my entire body and for some reason my right elbow was killing me. (Down)

My doctor put me on steroids to calm the flare and settle things out in my joints. Now I don't know about you, but me on steroids is not a good combination - they make me angry. So I warned my family.

There were benefits though: they gave me so much energy I (almost) reorganized the entire lower level of my house! (Up)

Then my daughter got the flu and I got it while nursing her. (Low) I was sick with fever and chills and spent the better part of the week in bed. At one point I lost an entire day - July 12th to be exact. Everything was "off" and on the third day I realized I'd forgotten to pray for myself! I'd been so focused on trying not to vomit, I didn't remember to ask God for help. So I prayed and went back to sleep.

Later that night, I heard a scream. I pulled the earplugs from my ears and turned on the light to find my husband flailing around in our bed. I tried to figure out what the heck was happening when he said, "Water! I spilled water all over us!" It turns out he'd had a dream that we were on the couch talking and he grabbed a cup of water and . . . fell asleep with it.

"Are you sure we weren't talking just now?" he asked.

"Definitely sure." I said.

"Really?!"

We both had a good laugh as I stumbled around trying to find new sheets and blankets. By then I was wide awake and couldn't fall asleep. Terrible storms with deafening thunder and lightning were shaking the house. I decided - at two o' clock in the morning - to catch up on some overdue filing, so I went into my closet (because that's where I keep my files).

While there, I had the distinct impression I was supposed to read the devotional for July 12th in Streams in the Desert. I tried to ignore it and keep filing, but the impression grew stronger so I read.

This was the scripture: He knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. (Job 23:10)

This was the first sentence: Faith grows during storms.

Everything I needed in that moment - in the storm of the flare and flu - was found in that little devotion of the day I'd lost. (High) It was about faith in God during the toughest times of life.

The last few sentences really spoke to me:

Yes, "in all these" - even during storms, when the winds are the most intense - "we are more than conquerors." You may be tempted to run from the ordeal of a fierce storm of testing, but head straight for it! God is there to meet you in the center of each trial. And He will whisper to you His secrets, which will bring you out with a radiant face and such an invincible faith that all the demons of hell will never be able to shake it. E. A. Kilbourne

Suffering friend, I believe God poured that water on my husband and me. I believe that He is indeed making us stronger through our trials, testing us so that when all is said and done we'll come forth as gold.

Now you: Has God ever ministered to you at midnight or in the middle of a life storm? Do tell! We never know how our stories of suffering can encourage someone going through the same struggle.
                                                                                                   Praying for you, Erika

5 Tips for Coping with Chronic Pain

Humans are amazingly creative; there's no end to the methods we use to cope with our struggles.

Some of us eat our way through problems. Some of us whine and complain incessantly. Some of us get angry, lash out and push away anyone who tries to help.

But none of these tactics actually works. Coping requires positive action.

So how do you cope with your chronic pain?

I'm an eternal optimist, so at first I tried to power through. I was certain that food and lack of exercise was the culprit so I changed my diet and got a trainer - one who was in the process of qualifying for the Olympics. Her method was "go big or go home" so I just about exercised myself to death.

My pain issue wasn't solved and while I'm still an optimist, I'm a realist too. The pain is here to stay.

Forever... unless God heals me.

Maybe you find yourself in a similar situation and need some new ideas. If so, I hope these tips will work for you as well as they do for me.

Tip # 1 - Trust in God

Though there's no cure for my condition and hopes for one are a long way off, my biggest comfort is knowing God is for me. And while I certainly don't like to suffer, I know he has a plan for it. God is for you too! The Bible says: For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy. He has not turned his back on them but has listened to their cries for help. Psalm 22:24.

Tip # 2 - Change Positions

My disease comes with musculoskeletal pain so sitting or standing in one place for too long is difficult for me. Making a conscious effort to change positions at least once an hour is a must, but I admit sometimes it's hard to do, especially at the movies or in church. So give yourself permission to fidget away!

Tip # 3 - Distract Yourself

Distractibility isn't usually considered a positive trait, but it's an essential skill to learn for pain sufferers. We can use healthy and fun distractions to take our minds off ourselves - heck, we need to take our minds off ourselves. So go to the movies, shoot pool or take a walk in the park. 

Tip # 4  - Take Care

Take time for self care! Caring for yourself is not selfish, it's imperative. Naps, soothing baths, massage, eating right and exercising are critical to good health.

Tip # 5  - Encourage Others

Suffering is all around us. The one benefit (if there is one) is that my eyes are opened to the suffering of others. I can now see the grimace on the face of the cashier standing for long hours. I'm more patient with the slow pace of the elderly woman ahead of me in line. I no longer judge people who can't lift, and bend and reach. I take time to sympathize, listen and pray for them. 

Suffering is not for wimps but through our weakness, God is strong.

Now you: Please share a coping tip that helps you get through the day!

Your words have supported those who were falling; you encouraged those with shaky knees. Job 4:4

Two new resources for pain sufferers

Look what I found!

I went to Barnes and Noble the other day and came across these two magazines so I bought them and wanted to give you a short preview.

The Pain Pathways magazine is geared toward patients and doctors and is a resource for their waiting rooms. However, it's chock full of information and has scads of great websites for chronic pain sufferers and their caregivers.

Stress and demands on caregivers are often overlooked, and as a caregiver myself I greatly appreciated reading something for us!

In addition, the back of the magazine has a resource guide for professional pain organizations and advocacy support groups for pain conditions caused by various cancers and too many disorders to count. I'd highly recommend snapping up this magazine wherever you can find it.

The Family Circle magazine contains one article on pain that didn't really surprise me as far as cures go. That's only because as a sick person, I've tried almost everything by now - except acupuncture. Because my disease is actually in the nerves of the skin, sticking needles in there is a no-no as far as I'm concerned.

The good news though is that chronic pain is getting some press so if you're suffering or have a loved one who is, these would be a great help.

Now you: Have you got any resources to share?

7 Scriptures to help with loneliness

Living with chronic illness can be lonely, heartbreakingly lonely.

At times our friends call less, our family struggles with acceptance and people who don't know us very well pass judgement.

I've struggled with loneliness all my life, but when you add "sickness" to the mix it takes on a whole different level of discouragement and sadness.

If anyone can relate to us, it's Jesus. He faced all of our struggles and feels all of our pain. When he was arrested in the olive grove right before his crucifixion, all his friends left him.

But he was never alone. 

And neither are we. Our God is always with us - at all times, in all circumstances - even when we can't feel his presence. Here are some scriptures to encourage and help you if you're struggling with this powerful emotion . . .

I hope you will write out the ones that spoke to you and carry them in your pocket when you need a little pick me up.
                                                                                      Be well, love well.

One amazing God: A story of heavenly help

By Erika Rizkallah

But for you who fear my name, the Sun of righteousness will arrive with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture. Malachi 4:2

God never ceases to amaze me.

Yesterday afternoon I had my first reflexology massage by Kathy, my amazing massage therapist. Fibromyalgia and my condition, Small Fiber Neuropathy, causes pain to move around in my body. Don't get me wrong, it's always present but somehow it has a mind of its own. This week it's been in my back and feet.

Sometimes I can't find words to describe what it feels like, but imagine having a migraine in your feet and your back at the same time. It's hard to function, especially for a mother. I'm always on my feet, but this time the pain won out.  For part of the week I could only sit or lay down. Such a bummer.

Kathy thought I should try reflexology to see if it helped.

So there I was in her studio. Soft lighting and soothing spa music put me in a relaxed state. My feet were bathed in a warm water bath - you know, the kind with soothing vibration - which had fragrant and healing essential oils added.

Then I hopped up on to the table and she began the treatment. In about fifteen minutes, my back pain ramped up. Burning. Searing. Tears streamed down my face as I gave in to a good (silent) cry and oh how I prayed. I begged God for help over and over as I tried to talk myself off of the metaphorical ledge.
   

I've often heard women suffering from Fibro say they've actually prayed to die. I understand and sympathize. Unrelenting suffering can cause depression and feelings of hopelessness.

But here's the amazing part, all of a sudden, I felt a cooling sensation. Like a cold compress was being pressed onto my back, exactly in the spot that burned. I told Kathy and we both praised God out loud. It lasted the entire length of my massage and gently faded away on the drive home.

                          Jesus heals.

I am so grateful to belong to a God who hears and cares about each one of us.

I hope you feel encouraged to pray - pray with all your heart - when you need God's comfort.

Your turn: Do you have any miraculous stories of comfort or healing?

Love and Limitations: Jesus comforts in affliction

By Erika Rizkallah

I know in my last post I said something about embracing my limitations. Well, maybe embrace was too strong a word because at some point in the week I'm pretty sure I broke down and cried a little.

On the plus side, my condition comes with memory loss so I can't remember it very well.

I think instead of embracing my limitations, I'll just give them a pat on the shoulder for now. You know, like we do with those awkward people we don't really want to hug.

Also, I want to share something that happened this week. In my sorrow, Jesus comforted me. Days after my little meltdown I was lamenting about my inability to serve him like I used to. During my prayer talk, I was filled with a warm love. It didn't come from within me, but was aimed at me!

His acceptance and kindness rushed over me like a waterfall.

I felt in my soul, that he loved me simply because he created me.

                                   It's true for you as well!

He doesn't care that we're not well enough or strong enough to do things for him. He doesn't need us to do anything for him. If anyone knows about our suffering and affliction, it's Jesus. He is our healer and savior and gives of himself freely and generously.

My prayer for all of us this week is that we simply accept his gifts and enjoy his presence.
                              May you be filled with his peace ~ Erika

Saturday: Slowly by Slowly

By Erika Rizkallah

For several years my church has been helping the people of Lagutu, Uganda rebuild and restore their village which was ravaged by the LRA (Lord's Resistance Army).  In this incredible human tragedy, thousands of parents were slaughtered. Their captured children were forced to fight as soldiers by the rebel invaders.

Progress and healing is slow but the Ugandans have a popular saying:

                                  Slowly by slowly...

Slowly by slowly - in its own time or in God's timing - things will get done.

Living with Small Fiber Neuropathy , chronic pain and Fibromyalgia has forced me to change my pace. And the way I think . . .  about everything.

I've decided that this year, I will adopt the Slowly by Slowly motto for myself. Instead of despairing or being perpetually frustrated, I will embrace my limitations. I will consider it a gift from God that keeps me grounded and present in each moment.

And I will take pictures of my progress along the way because my illness robs me of memory. Slowly by slowly, my children will grow and mature and things that matter to me will get done. These small accomplishments will remind me that, oh yeah . . . I did do that!

So here are my first small Saturday: SbS pics for this day on January 17th -

Tidying up my little porch area

Bringing life (hopefully) to some weather beaten pansies

Your Turn: Do you have your own Slowly by Slowly accomplishments to tackle?

Seasons

A couple of weeks ago we took my mother-in-law to Asheville to celebrate her 70th birthday. It's a six hour drive - thats long for me - so I packed accordingly...

It was a good thing I did because I don't know what it is about traveling, but it's exhausting and painful.

How can sitting while doing nothing, be exhausting?

I do a better job of prepping for pain in advance of things like travel, never-ending piano recitals, and long movies, but it's not easy. Overthinking is also exhausting!

One of the choices I had to sacrifice though, was not going zip lining with my kids.

I HATE that I can't do things like this (for now), but it was the right decision.

My awesome hubby took the kids and gave me a little time for shopping fun though, so it all worked out in the end.

The Bible says:  There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
                           a time to be born and a time to die,
                           a time to plant and a time to uproot,
                           a time to kill and a time to heal,
                           a time to tear down and a time to build,
                           a time to weep and a time to laugh,
                           a time to mourn and a time to dance,
                           a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
                           a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
                           a time to search and a time to give up,
                           a time to keep and a time to throw away,
                           a time to tear and a time to mend,
                           a time to be silent and a time to speak,
                           a time to love and a time to hate,
                           a time for war and a time for peace.
                                                                                       Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

So I'm determined to think of this time of suffering and affliction as a season - a time of tearing down my body and rebuilding my spirit.

A time to learn the lessons God offers through the trials.

What about you? What season are you in?

Help for Myofascial & pelvic pain - Take control of your body!

Today I want to talk about something that's changed my life . . . physical therapy.

For those of us suffering from myofascial pain, such as Fibromyalgia or Myofascial Pain Syndrome, physical therapy can be a game-changer.

I recently went to a physical therapy appointment for my daughter, who's also a chronic pain sufferer. During the health history part of the exam, the therapist asked her a flurry of questions related to different parts of her body. At one point, my daughter and I got confused about a question and when I asked for clarity she busted this thing out...

(Hint: If you're a dude this might be a good time for you to jump out of this conversation.)

This a model of a woman's pelvic floor "area". (I had no idea they had things like this.)

My child was mortified, but I was fascinated.

She gave us a mini anatomy lesson using this model and we learned that a woman's pelvic floor has three types of muscles that all work together. (The model has moveable parts!) I learned so much in that session - so much I should have learned way before I decided to have children.

She then went on to ask more questions like: "Do you ever leak urine when you laugh, cry or sneeze?"
                            My daughter's response: "Ooh no! That's disgusting!"

Several more minutes of questioning went on and each time my daughter answered, "No." I was silently answering "yes." That's when I decided to make an appointment for myself.

Now I go twice a week and the therapists have taught me things I never knew about my body. They are also helping me with Pilates and core strengthening exercises.

It feels good to be in control of my health and body.

If you want to try physical therapy, just request a referral from your doctor and make sure it's for a therapist who specializes in women's issues. I just learned that some insurance companies will pay for massage therapy if you have a referral from your doctor. I'm totally checking that out!

Here's a link for women in Wilmington, but if you live somewhere else just do a Google search using the terms found on this site. Good luck and happy strengthening!

Physical Therapy For Women, Wilmington

#Grateful

By Erika Rizkallah

What a difference a week makes! We've had sunny skies for almost a full six days and I am way less achy. I'm so grateful because I put myself on a mini-vacation before school started and I actually enjoyed myself for a sustained period.

Yesterday I spent hours in a few home stores, just pushing my cart through the aisles with about a million other Southern ladies trying to take advantage of Labor Day sales. It was funny just to listen to all the laughter and hootin' and hollering' - yes, that's actually a thing here.

The one thing I've learned since moving to the South, is that all true Southern ladies, value their families and homes. Decorating them is a favorite pastime. I get right in there with them.

Best of all, I enjoyed time with the ladies in my family on a cruise down the Cape Fear River.  I felt so blessed to be able to run errands and then relax myself on a sunset cruise.

I hope you're taking time out to enjoy these last few days of summer!

Blame it on the rain: chronic pain and the weather

By Erika Rizkallah

I don't know about you, but my chronic pain is seriously affected by the weather - particularly by humidity or precipitation.

In short, the rain brings pain.

                                                                                 Photo courtesy of Dania Rizkallah

Unfortunately there's not a whole lot I can do but keep my eyes on the sky and prepare for a time of self care. I live in an area known as Hurricane Alley and summer storms are a regular part of life. Drenching rain and muggy mornings are the norm, but the barometric pressure's been wreaking havoc on so many people.

Does weather affect you?

       Have you been plagued with migraines?

Are you taking care of yourself?

Self-care is not the same thing as being self-centered. It's about knowing your limits and making the right choices for your body and spirit. There's nothing worse than being at the end of your rope and snapping at someone you love (trust me, I know.)

My go to items for self-care are: Pain meds, heating pads and a great book to divert my focus.

Here's a link to a handy tool that may help you stay mindful of atmospheric pressure. It's a map of aches and pains and if you explore it, you might also find the "frizz forecast" - a map for your hair!

Do you have any tools that you could share with us? Do tell!

Take your mind off your pain

By Erika Rizkallah

One of the hardest things about living with chronic pain, is learning how to take your mind off of it.

When my doctor put me in limbo, he suggested I use tools like mindfulness practice, meditation and biofeedback. I already use those things from time to time so I dutifully nodded my head and picked up my purse.
                                                      Erika had left the building.

You see, when I started to get the gist of his sage wisdom, the whimsical wheels in my head took me directly to the craft store.
                                                      The craft store you ask?

Why yes, the craft store. You see, I've already found a thing that takes my focus off my pain for hours at a time.
                                               Beads! Glorious beads!

I'm enraptured by them, and as I admitted to my writing group the other day, they're also luring me away from my work. So I cleared out a space for them in my closet. Sigh.

Out of sight, out of mind, right?

I had my hands full and was wondering what I should blog about today when all of a sudden... I tripped.

Beads flew everywhere. My beads - my glorious, organized beads were trapped in the fibers of my plush carpet.

You know what else can take your mind off of pain for awhile?

Sorting.

But I didn't. I resisted the urge and thanked God for the marvelous blog topic and beautiful picture for today.

Tell me about you: Do you have a hobby or distraction that helps take your mind off of pain?

Blessings In Disguise

By Erika Rizkallah

I have a love-hate attitude about my chronic pain, a condition called Small Polyfiber Neuropathy. Of course I hate pain. But if I didn't have it, I wouldn't have been given a gift. One of those blessings in disguise things, if you know what I mean. 

Living an Unstuck life is all about freedom and movement. As we walk along the path of life God set out for us, we have freedom and rest for our souls. We also have movement... 

            We're walking with Him.

We're not stuck. 

However, we can be lured into that trapped/stuck lifestyle at any time. We have an adversary (Satan) who spends 100% of his time trying to kill, steal and destroy our life and everything meaningful to us.

Let's face it, we don't spend 100% of our time on anything; this gives him an advantage over us if we're not walking in the spirit.

We can be following God's plan when out of nowhere, we're hit with the rotten parts of life: confusion, crisis, strife in the home or an illness. These things come with decisions: Are we going to continue moving or are we going to let it paralyze us?

That's what happened to me when illness first struck. I didn't know what my body was doing or why - and neither did the doctors. Everything came to a screeching halt (me = screeching). But after a while, I resolved to get back on my feet and serve Him in my weakness. 

I also wanted to press on with my goals and enjoy the full life Jesus meant for me to have. 

I love to sing. I've been singing since I was four and was in choirs until high school. Then I got kicked out (long story) and stopped singing in groups. For the past three years I've been telling God I'd sing in his choir in Heaven, but several weeks ago I thought NO...I'm going to sing now! 

So I prayed for a choir I could sing with, and then...voila! I got the opportunity and joined it. Best of all, I get to sing with my daughter, Katya. 

Our choir is a mixed group of teens and adults and we traveled together to Tennessee to see three regional Broadway plays and perform a concert for a large church.

                                                       Two of our fave actors: Anna & Austin

I can't explain how joyful I felt watching people praise God from our position behind the pulpit. I now know what it means to offer myself as a living sacrifice and it was worth every ounce of pain I feel now.

                                                          Enjoying life with my daughter 
                                                                                               (I take terrible selfies)

What about you? Have you recognized any blessings in disguise from your illness?

Has your doctor put you in limbo? Being a patient takes patience

By Erika Rizkallah

Last week I followed up with my neurologist to get the final results from a three-part testing process I went through.

He called me into his office to let me know that my diagnosis is Small Polyfiber Neuropathy, which boils down to this: it hurts to have skin.

Technically it's a nerve disease in the small fibers of the body and there is no cure. Most people have it in the feet and legs but I have it all over. Most people are diabetic or overweight and can improve the pain through lifestyle change, but I'm neither diabetic nor overweight.

My case is considered idiopathic which boils down to this: They are clueless.

So my doctor put me in limbo for six months in the hope that The Mayo Clinic, The Cleveland Clinic or George Washington University would discover the cause. Obviously someone's been doing their research. The bad news for patients like me is that it takes about 10 years of research and clinical trials before any medicine can be prescribed.

So I'm in limbo. My doctor said, "Do you understand what I mean by limbo?" And I said, "yes."
Later I wondered why on earth do I understand limbo? Because it's not an actual place, it's a state of indecision. So I looked it up and it's also a theology, movie, dance and game that people play at parties.

But only young girls are successful, because older people break their backs playing this silly game. My clumsy family has never made it under the limbo stick, no matter how many times we try.

Why am I putting the name of my disease out there? It's been discovered that women with my condition and those that suffer from "pins and needles" or "ants running up arms and legs" often get diagnosed with fibromyalgia.

At any rate, the sensations ARE NOT NORMAL, so if you suffer from them, get to the doctor and see if they can find an underlying cause before more damage is done.

And take heart. Technological advances are making medications safer so that we can have a better quality of life.
                                                           Being a patient takes patience.

The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.

                                                                                                  Ecclesiastes 7:8
                         

Can you encourage your doctor?

By Erika Rizkallah

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news. Isaiah 52:7

Yesterday, I was able to bring good news to my doctor. Our conversation went something like this:

Him:   Well, hello.

Me:    Hello. How are you?

Him:   I'm doing ok, pretty good I guess.

Me:     Me too.

Him:   What? (huge smile) Really?!

Watching his reaction was fun and far different from the last time I saw him. At my last appointment, he was discouraged by difficult patients and vented a bit. He told me that earlier in the day, he almost quit. Pain management is a tough business and patients can often be depressed and angry. Quite often, anger and blame is directed toward him.

I don't know what I'd do if he quit; he's a fantastic doctor doing a wonderful job helping me manage my pain.

Yesterday was filled with good news for him. It felt awesome for me too - to be able to say, "I feel good."

Of course I still have pain, but when I review the last four weeks I'm more encouraged than discouraged. I spent time in my garden and took great care of my children. I prepared for Hurricane Arthur, maintained my home (with help) and managed to host several families who were vacationing at my house. One night, I even stayed out late at our local carnival and watched the fireworks. It was so different from last July, thank God!

I'd like to pray for us: Heavenly Father, thank you for creating science and medicine. Thank you for placing the call of healing on our doctors. We lift them up to you lord: the surgeons, physicians, P.A.s, nurses and technicians that work together with you for our good. Bless and encourage them as they care for us and deal with the stress of their profession. Amen.

As you go to your appointments this month, is there a doctor, nurse or health care professional you can encourage?
                                                                               I'll be praying for you! ~ Erika

What season are you in?

By Erika Rizkallah

On Sundays, this space is reserved for God stories. As one of the redeemed, I'd like to share just some of the many things he's done in my life. I hope you'll be encouraged by them!

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story - those he redeemed from the hand of the foe. Psalm 107:1-2

Have you ever felt like you're in a spiritual desert? Like you're not hearing or seeing God? I have . . . more times than I can count.

In these times, the most useful thing we can do, is search for the root cause. Just as when we're feeling physically ill, we naturally try to figure out what caused it:

   Could it be food poisoning?

   Was it that snotty baby we held in children's church? (God loves snotty babies).

    Am I allergic to something (or someone)?

I recently had this experience; I was as dry as the desert - not hearing from God at all, which is unusual.

I began looking for the root cause, asking him in prayer and receiving no answer. Until  I noticed something . . .

Lilies began appearing in my front yard. I didn't plant them and so I was surprised when they began to blooming in early spring. The lily is a spiritually significant flower for me because of this favorite Bible verse:

"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I (Jesus) tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!" Luke 12:27, 28

These verses and the ones before them, are about God's care and provision for his children. We're not to worry about meeting our own physical needs. Isn't that liberating?

I do have to consider the lilies and I don't have to worry about myself. Maybe this is my season of seeing God at work.

What season do you find yourself in?

Can you laugh at yourself?

"The most wasted of all days is one without laughter." E.E. Cummings

Yesterday was a funny day, in more ways than one. Sometimes my brain gets a little wonky and I forget things. It happens so often these days that I've learned to laugh at myself. The other option is to feel stupid and beat myself up emotionally, but self-abuse is not my thing.

                                                                     So I laugh.

As you may know, I'm at a writer's conference. Yesterday was my big day for appointments and I had meetings with two agents and an editor. This is a big deal in the conference world, and one of the main benefits of going. I made sure I had everything I needed and looked my best because you never get a second chance to make a good first impression right?

I was walking down a big hill to breakfast with my friend Andy when she made a comment about how comfortable her shoes were. That got me thinking about how comfortable my shoes were so I looked down . . .

and realized I was wearing my house slippers, not the cute little flats I'd set out. Andy and I laughed so hard that I had to ask her to stop. Otherwise, I'd pee my pants - bladder control is another symptom this nasty disease affects.

Later that day, I went to two appointments and forgot the third. This means I totally blew off an editor and I'll probably never be able to write for her publication.

                                                                  All I can do is laugh.

Can you laugh at yourself?

Laughter can be healing and contagious. I try to find at least one video a day that makes me chuckle, but the best ones cause belly aches and incontinence.

According to the Cancer Treatment Centers of America, surgeons used humor to distract patients from pain as early as the 13th century. More recently, studies have revealed that laughter reduces pain, decreases stress related hormones and helps boost the immune system.

How about you? Do you have ways to distract yourself from pain or create laughter?