Right now I am at at 10-20. I would say that I fall into a 15 if it were on the chart above! I am have severe symptoms and am in bed about 17 hours a day! I was able to leave the house for 1 day this week which was yesterday and there was one day when I was hardly able to get online for more than 1/2 hr at a time and rest for two hours between the segments of 1/2 hours. And that was for a total of 2 hours. Most of it was LIKING pictures and groups I didn't belong to yet about Fibromyalgia and Chronic Illness/Disease. I am stopping right here to take a 1 hour break from the computer. I will most likely need to take the pain pill if I wish to continue on the computer today doing the things I need to get done today and for that to be done I will need to be on no longer that 1/2 hour at a time (even with the pain pill).
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| This is a close to perfect example of where all my chronic pain points are while sitting in a chair. Never on the floor. |
Rest Ministries has shared:
“What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What prospects, that I should be patient? (Job 6:11)
One of the most problematic issues for people with disabilities and chronic illnesses is the “expectations game.” It is this endless game we can never win. When others, and even ourselves, have continued unrealistic expectations about our abilities, it often leads to disappointment and even discouragement.
I have tried hard to be realistic about my abilities and limitations due to illness. Yet like most of you, I want to believe I can do more, and accomplish more in spite of my illness than is often possible. I want to make promises, agree to do things that are often out of my reach because of illness. And when we make promises we cannot keep, we end up disappointing others and ourselves.
We are eager to please others, we want the approval of others, yet when we can’t meet their expectations, they become angry, we become angry, and we may even feel guilty, and no one is pleased with the outcome.
Perhaps one of the hardest things with our disabilities is to simply say: “I’m sorry, but I can’t do that.” Honesty may not make everyone happy, but you cannot afford to make promises your disability is unable to keep.
Jesus tells us that “the truth shall set you free” (John 8:23). And though it may not make everyone happy, including ourselves, I believe truth and honesty about our abilities is a much better policy that “wishful thinking” that will surely disappoint.
Friends, we must be honest about our illnesses, even when it may not be what others want to hear.
Truth is a better, more sure standard, to live by than unreasonable optimism. Let us be hopeful, let us push our limits where we can, but let us also be honest and truthful when it comes to our illness and abilities, and then let God take care of the rest.
Prayer: Dear Lord, how we hate our limitations, but let us always be honest about them. Amen.
