Life is a gift - Duh, right? This is common sense to most people and I'll admit to having the head knowledge, but not the right perspective. However, everything changes when you wake up (after hardly sleeping) and know that you'll struggle almost every minute of the day. Life is an active verb. I value every second of living now... especially the pain free ones!
Pain is everywhere - Before, I'd fly through my days with relative ease checking off things to do from my daily list. Now, I don't "fly." I step gingerly - oh so gingerly, through my daily tasks and my payoff is noticing. I notice that the cashier at Walmart isn't just cranky, she's grimacing. She goes about her tasks painfully too. I notice the old man, hunched over and shuffling down the long walk to his mailbox. I notice the tears threatening to burst from the nurse's eyes, and I know if I ask her how she's doing she'll say, "I'm just fine honey."
Life is too short for BS - This speaks for itself. I don't have energy for much BS, I have enough people shoveling it into my own life. Now I just throw it back and move on.
God is still wonderful - Every day I wake up and thank him for this awesome life and unwanted lesson. Jesus was the master of enduring pain. He mastered it. No one was more filled with grace through suffering. Every day I fail at mastering this, but he remains my teacher and most importantly, he won't give up on me.
Each day is fresh! - I used to be a futurist and a planner. I always looked at the next day, week or year and often had them planned out. I can't do this now. It's a hard habit to unlearn, but I'm working on it. It's a fresh way of thinking for me - this living as each moment unfolds. Each day brings us opportunities and trouble, but I know I can count on tomorrow to be fresh.
So what about you? What has your disease/syndrome/affliction taught you? I'd love to know!
