Inspiration

[BonnieT]

Ok. Last night I was watching the news and saw this good looking young man receive an ESPY award. He was a coach of a football team. He was loved by his team. At the end he said something like - I’ve come this far, who knows how far I’ll go! I cried. I’m crying now. This beautiful person was in a special wheelchair. He had no arms and no legs. He was born this way. I asked God to forgive me for my whining.

[Hidden]

I know how you feel . When I was younger a girl from school had RA I saw her few years later she was in a bad way with limited movement from the neck down. I use to say to myself

There but for the grace of God go I.

How ironic.

[BonnieT in reply to Hidden]

I once wrote a charitable campaign letter and ended it with that same quote, “there but for the grace of God go I.”

[Hessie5]

When we think we have it bad - you just see these reminders. I was literally hobbling to work with my sore ankles feeling a tadge frustrated and fed up, when alongside a young lady with her crutch on one leg. I shut up and said to myself count your blessings.... I am trying to be grateful for what I have and be more gentle too. 😌

[BonnieT in reply to Hessie5]

💕

[Hidden]

I can relate to how you are feeling Bonnie. I go to a pain group and there is a young girl of just over 30 there who can't walk and is in constant pain from her leg which is all distorted. Last year she was in hospital for 9 months. We have got friendly and last week she sent me an email to say that she was now in a different hospital and was going to have her leg amputated the following day. I was shocked as I knew nothing about that. She said that the only people she had told up to then was her parents, but she had been begging to have it done for several years now as she couldn't stand the pain.

I felt so humbled to think of someone of that age making that brave decision. I am in a bad way and waiting for a complete shoulder replacement and a knee replacement and have had two small operations earlier this year as well, but mine seems nothing compared to what she is going through. But who knows, perhaps it will enable her to walk with crutches or to have a false leg which would be better for her than being stuck in a wheelchair for the rest of her life.

[BonnieT in reply to Hidden]

Let’s hope for a good outcome for her. God works in mysterious ways. I hope all goes well for you as well, Holly-Willow.

[Hidden in reply to BonnieT]

Thank you for your good wishes Bonnie. I am a Christian as well and although I am in a bad way for health, I do realise that I have a lot to be thankful for. However, I no longer go to church like I used to because of the silly remarks I used to get from others who went there. Examples are; "You look well to me", " You should go for a five mile walk every day and that would make you better", "I know someone who was cured by eating a sprig of parsley everyday" and the worst one of all which was"If you were a proper Christian you wouldn't be ill." I am much less stressed by not going there now.

[BonnieT in reply to Hidden]

So sorry to hear that, Holly-willow. That last one certainly spoke like an un-Christian. Just keep your goodness in your heart you don’t need a church for that. People can be so insensitive and misguided. Everyone tells me to walk as well. I would love to, it’s just impossible. They have no clue.

[Hidden in reply to BonnieT]

Some people are just so insensitive Bonnie and they need to learn to think before they speak. There is a lot of ignorance about but you expect people who go to church to be a bit better, but I think that the truth is that they can often be worse and that they think they are more superior to others.

[Ruth12345]

Wonderful thread. I don't often refer to my gratitude to God on here, but so thankful to Him that I am not worse than I am. I find thinking that way and as you have said looking at others keeps me focused on the positive when life is challenging on a daily basis. Have a lovely day.

[BonnieT in reply to Ruth12345]

Thank you, Ruth. You, too!