Disabilities in Disguise

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If someone has a cast on their foot, it’s probably due to a broken bone. Hearing aids aren’t worn because they are a fashion statement. And I don’t believe toting an oxygen tank around is an easy task; it’s to feed air into their lungs.

But what about the disabilities that have no obvious outward signs? If someone has a speech impediment, how do you know until they speak? I have chronic migraines. That means at least a few days a week, if not more, my head feels like it’s about to explode. Light, smell, sound and motion are excruciating. If I try to push myself to do the dishes, the smell of the dish soap pushes me over the edge and I can forget keeping food or fluids down for the rest of the day without medication.

I do my best to put a smile on my face in front of others, and almost always answer “fine” if someone asks how I am. After all, who really wants to hear about someone’s ailments? What I really want to say is ‘someone must be drilling a hole at the crown of my head’ and ‘please speak softly because your voice is echoing inside my brain’. I want to scream at the woman who walks by me at the doctor’s office and is wearing half an ounce of perfume. Even if I walk in the door feeling fine, the smell triggers an intense headache.

I have many friends who live with fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, and are going through cancer treatments. We suffer quietly and mostly without complaint. On our good days, we try not to use our energy naming our aches and pains. A good day is to be cherished!

Early in my search for emotional healing, I fell in love with the book of Philippians. I have tucked these verses away for when I need them. I hope they give you comfort as well.

Philippians 2:14-16 says “Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.”

If you’re wondering about the race, you might want to look up Hebrews 12:1 and 1 Corinthians 9:24.

We can’t truly know another man (or woman’s) burdens, but we can make their way a little easier. By the way, I’m fine today. How about you?

Blessings,
Lyn

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Christian Advice: One Woman to Another

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Good old Webster defines counseling as “advice and support that is given to people to help them deal with problems, make important decisions, etc”. I don’t have any educational abbreviations or alphabet behind my name, but I do know people. I know how it feels to be hurt, both physically and emotionally. I understand loneliness, shame and guilt.

I used to love reading the “Dear Abby” column. She seemed to have all the right answers. I don’t have all those answers, but through a couple of volunteer opportunities, I have had the privilege of working with many women and teen girls. Most of us have the same core issues weighing us down. The problems or issues may have different ‘names’, but the feelings they evoke are the same.

girls on couch

Most of us have a friend or relative we can go to when things begin to get muddy. But not all of us. And even if there is someone, do we want them knowing all the dark places in our heart, the cob webs covering the memories we have packed away, hoping to forget, or that bottle of tears we are careful not to open for fear it may spill out?

coffee cup THROUGHTHERUBBLE is my way of reaching out and telling part of my story in the hope it benefits other women and families. I need your help! What’s on your mind? What are you going through? Let’s have a cup of coffee or a glass of iced tea and talk about it, woman to woman

. I’m listening! iced tea 2

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The Empty Tomb and Easter Eggs?

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When my children were small, I thought being a good parent meant taking them to all the community Easter Egg hunts. Growing up in a large metropolitan area, that meant a LOT of plastic eggs at the end of the day! And of course there was the trip to the mall where we waited in line for an adorable picture of my children sitting on a furry animal’s lap. (Why do we tell our kids to stay away from strangers and then force them to sit on a bunny or Santa’s lap just for a picture? But that will probably be a future post.)

Looking back, I had it all so wrong.

But that was before Jesus!

If I could do it all over again, I might use plastic eggs since they’re so readily available this time of year. Instead of filling the eggs with candy, I would fill them with scripture messages of love and hope. Easter isn’t about colorful eggs; it’s about a risen Savior who loves us unconditionally.

I wouldn’t fill dozens of eggs for each child; we have ONE God who provides for us abundantly. Each child would get one very special egg as remembrance of the One who died for them.

easter egg and tomb

I wouldn’t make a game of hiding and seeking the eggs; Jesus is ever-present, we only have to look to see the impact He has over every aspect of our lives. A simple tomb could not hold our Messiah! Their special ‘Egg’ would not be placed on a mantle or under a bushel. I’m not sure where I would put it, maybe at the breakfast table, since He is the Bread of Life. Or on the sink since He is our Living Water. Where the eggs would have been is not as important as why the eggs were there.

Doing it all over again, I’d tell them about Jesus and not the Easter Bunny. Jesus has forgiven so many of my blunders. While I can’t turn back the years to their childhood, I CAN hope to get it better with my grandchildren. Pray for me, won’t you?

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