About Me Tuesday: One Of My Least Favorite Quotes

 Photo by Clipartmax

One of my 3 favorite movies is Steel Magnolias  (along with Beaches and Step-Mom.

One of my all-time least favorite quotes is in Steel Magnolias occurs in the scene where Shelby is telling her mother that she is expecting a baby. M'Lynn is less than enthused. and says:

"You are special, Shelby.  There are limits to what you can do."

I must admit, if this had been my Mama, I think I would have slapped her. (Probably not, because the Norman Boys would have KILLED me!!!)  I wanted to be a Mama all my life.  I can remember Mama telling me that I should focus on being a "doting" Aunt.  (She said this when I was a teenager and I do love my Nieces and Nephews.) 

So, I guess why I struggle with this quote so much is because I can emphasize with Shelby.  I was told that I couldn't and shouldn't have children.

As I said, I wanted to be a mother more than anything.  I knew it wasn't going to be easy.  

Teddy Roosevelt said that "nothing worth having comes easy."  I think most of us agree with this

The other great quote in this scene is when Shelby says; "I would rather have 30 minutes of wonderful than a lifetime of nothing special."

Everyone has dreams and challenges.  How much are you willing to give for yours?

Mental Health Monday: The Demons and the Pigs

 

Luke 8:26--39 tells us the beloved story of the man who lived in the tombs because he was possessed by a legion of demons and JESUS drove them into a herd of pigs who jumped off the cliff and drowned in the lake.

Now people have several opinions of the occurrence:

     -Some people say this story is clearly saying that this man is  demon-possessed, and does not have a mental illness.

    -Some people believe that this man does have a mental illness.

    -Some people don't believe in mental illness; and that mental illness is definitely not talked about in the Bible - which it is, BTW.

    -Some people think that sin causes mental illness.

    -Some people recognize mental illness as a true medical issue, and that has nothing to do with sin. (*Side note~some sins does lead to medical & other problems*)

 Regardless, of what you believe, JESUS healed this man of his demons.

And HE can heal people who have a mental illness.

However, HE doesn't always heal people. 

Many people stop believing in JESUS if they aren't healed.

    -Some people say you're not healed because your faith  isn't strong enough.

Sometimes, JESUS uses our mental health as part of our ministry

In Luke 8:28 we learn that demon-possessed man asked; "What do you want with me, JESUS, SON of the most High GOD?  I beg you don't torture me"

Are we asking GOD what HE wants from us; what HE wants from me?

Now, I know that HE doesn't "need" anything from me EVER!!!

I do owe HIM my love and respect; whether HE ever heals me or not.  I may end up being crazier than a betsy bug, so I ask that someone please remind me to praise GOD when  I can't remember to.

Wednesday's Word -Comfort

    

                                                                                                  Photo by Clipart Library 

According to dictionary.com, comfort means to soothe console, and reassure; (verb), a feeling of relief or consolation (noun).

Comfort is one of those words that has a different meaning for everyone; maybe it is associated with an image.

When we first got married, some friends of ours gave us a big overstuffed chair.  It was awesome to curl up and watch a movie or read a good book.

Comfort gives me a sense of peace.  No matter what is going on around me, if I can just close my eyes for a minute, then I can go on and deal with the ordeal at hand.

John 14:26 (KIV) says; 

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the FATHER will send in my name, HE shall teach you all things,  and bring all things to your remeberance, whoever I said unto you."

It should come as no surprise that GOD HIMSELF is the best comforter of all.

John 16:6-8 (NIV) tells us:

"Rather you are filled with grief because I have said theses things.  But very truly I tell you these things, it is for your good that I go away.  Unless I go away, the ADVOCATE will not come to you.  But if I go, I will send HIM to you.  When HE comes HE will proove the world to be in the wrong about sind and rightouness and judgement."

A couple of years ago my brother, Luke, tragically lost his oldest son.  I can't even start to imagine what that would feel like.  Luke took it in stride.  I'm sure he struggles every day to get up and live his life but he does it.  I am in complete awe of him.   I pray that he is able to dig down deep and take comfort in what we learned about GOD while we were growing up.

We do not always need to understand why things happen as they do.  In fact, it's probably best that we don't understand why things happen like they do  If we could understand why things happened, we would probably up in a ball and cry.

It's only through the hope, through the comfort, of GOD that we can survive anything at all.

Mental Health Mondays: Prayers & Acceptance

Photo by Clipartmax

Oftentimes,  people with mental health issues, and sometimes other issues too, are made to feel like it is somehow our fault that we are the way we are. If we had more faith or if we prayed more, then we wouldn't be in this predicament.

First of all, doesn't the bible tell u not to judge?

I'll start by saying this;  I don't believe ANYONE would choose to have a mental illness.

No one in their right mind, anyway.  (Ba da rum -this is supposed to sound like a drum 🥁!)

OK, OK in all seriousness, I truly don't believe that anyone chooses to have a mental illness

It can lead to guilt, shame, self-harm, destructive families, etc, etc

The bad - or maybe the good -thing about having a mental illness, is that it's a solo journey.  I can talk to family and friends till I'm blue in the face (and I have) trying to explain how I think and feel and react to certain situations, but they will never be able to understand everything. However, this works both ways.  We can be married another 24 more years and I don't think  I'll ever understand Barrett.

I pray (and I know sweet Mama prays) every day that God takes away this thorn in my side.

But what if HE doesn't?

Chances are my mental illness is part of GOD's plan for my life.

Am I willing to accept it?  Do I have a choice?

Probably not

So, I will pray and keep hoping that I will hear the cherished words one day 

"Well done, good and faithful servant!."

  

I love you, Bryan Barrett

 

o

This picture may have been made a couple of years ago.

OK, OK, maybe a few more...24 to be exact.

When we met in a 2-week summer Philosophy class, we didn't know how much our lives would change.

I had been praying to meet the guy I would marry and spend the rest of my life with.  I knew within 2 weeks that this would be the man that I would spend the rest of my life with.

He was a little less enthused. 

I think he loved me, I know he loved me.

However, it's one thing to fall in love and get married.  Is quite another thing to fall in love and get married to someone with a disability.

SIDE NOTE: I am in no way saying that people can't or shouldn't fall in love and get married, it is just not easy. (I have discussed this many times in this blog.)

I can only speak about our experiences, especially mine.

I can't drive, and as anyone with kids knows, being a chauffeur  is a big part of being a parent.  We were very blessed to have Bryan's Daddy and other parents and friends who could help out.

When we went out as a family, which was a great ordeal, especially when it got harder for me to walk, he proudly carried the weight.  It would have been so much easier for him to do things by himself, but he chose to do things that included us as a family.

He worked hard so that I could stay home with our kids and be the best mother to them I could be. 

He worked hard to give me what I needed to have a more productive life.

Even now, when I have to be in a nursing facility, he does whatever he can to include me.

Even when I'm unlovable...

Even when he doesn't understand everything...

Even when I don't deserve him...

He's still there

Oftentimes, when you're dealing with someone with a disability, illness, or really anything that puts a strain on the family, it's the person with the impairment who seems to get the bulk of the attention.

Sadly, I am the one who got that attention.

Most of the time I selfishly wanted the attention.

I took this away from my children.

But he still loved me, still loves me!!!

 

Thankful Thursday -Gail's Mom

 

Photo by pngtree

I am continuing to give thanks to some of the women who have made an impression on me.

I have 2 friends here at the Waters who are sisters They both have some type of Apraxia. (I think)

I met Gail when I first came to live in the nursing facility.  She's so sweet.  Her condition is much more advanced than her sister, CJ.  Along with her trouble speaking, she's totally physically disabled.  I thought she had Multiple Sclerosis when I first met her.

I'll talk about these sweet ladies in other posts.

Today I want to talk about their mom, Mrs. Jefferys.  

First, let me say it's been a difficult week for me.

My roommate, Sandra , went to live with a caregiver in her home in Hermitage.  I got upset and Aella Saudade may or may not have, made an appearance.

Anyway, Mrs. Jefferys just called to say hello and see how I was doing.  She said she would check on me next time she comes to visit Gail and CJ.

It meant so much to know that someone, out of the clear blue, just called to say she was thinking about me.

Mama always says that she hopes people step in and take care of us when she can't be there.

I've been blessed by a lot of good "Mamas" over the years.  I'm proud and thankful to count Gail's mom as one of my adopted "Mamas".

Wednesday's Word - Envy

 

Photo by Clipart-Library

I am a jealous person.

To be honest, I think most of us are jealous to a certain extent.

What do they say; the grass is always greener?

Jealousy goes back to Cain and Abel in the Bible, which to first murder.

When you're disabled, or at least for me, I would see things other people did or had that I knew I would never have or be able to do.

We always think we would be better off, be a better person if we had something that someone else had.

Are we not good enough?

Did GOD  not create us to be enough?

Yes we sin and we will in a fallen world,  but God created us to be unique.  

Just like people have distinct, unique sets of fingerprints, our personalities are distinct and unique too.

God knows what we can have and deal with.

The secret is not to learn how to be less envious, but rather to be more accepting of who God has made us to be.