Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Your Dying Spouse 341 - Making Like Moses

It's one of those "You have GOT to be kidding!" things...an extremely painful (and, as Barb said just now, scary-looking) rash has developed under my arms and along the sides of my neck...following the line of the lymph nodes, which may not bode well.

But that's beside the point. It hurts so much that I have to keep my arms extended away from by body...but I guess I'm in good company:

And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.

Exodus 17:11-12

It's tempting to feel kind of put-upon by this...I mean (pardon the organ recital) I've got severe abdominal pain, the dreaded D&V, and an abscessed tooth. Was this rash really necessary?

No, it's not. But it's just part of life. We were not promised a limit on tribulation; we were promised Help in dealing with it.

We were not promised a world without pain, but if we believe, we are promised an eternity that transcends the pain.

And we have examples...Lou Gehrig, retiring from baseball after being diagnosed with ALS, saying "I am the luckiest man alive."

And our musical theme-person, Donna Fargo, released Happiest Girl In The Whole USA in 1972...and in 1979 was diagnosed with MS. She and her husband fought the disease to a standstill, and she was able to keep up her musical career, albeit on a more limited basis.

Donna Fargo's also an author, and a recent book, released in 2010, has the winning title I Thanked God For You Today.

You see people like that, and a rash is nothing. And neither is the rest of it.


Still hoping to get the new and improved version of Blessed Are The Pure Of Heart up and running in the near future. Just haven't had the energy to do it yet...but if you would like to read it, please say so in your comment and I'd be glad to send you a PDF (which should fit your Kindle).

I have another blog, "Starting The Day With Grace". The focus is a grace quote from someone you might not expect (like, say Mick Jagger) and a short commentary. I hope you'll join me.



Marley update... been moved to a sanctuary, and Bay County will revise their 'dangerous dog' codes.

WE MADE A DIFFERENCE!

And marley has a Facebook page! Please drop by to see how happy he is today.


If you can, please do leave a comment. I am trying to answer all, and I am failing, but please know this - I read and treasure each one.

Below are my recent releases on Kindle -please excuse their presence in the body of the blog. I haven't the energy to get them up as 'buttons' in the sidebar. You can click on the covers to go to the Amazon links.










7 comments:

  1. I'm no doctor, but it sounds like it might be shingles. Aloe vera gel can help a lot to stop the pain. I'm praying for you, as always.

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    1. Jan, thank you! I'll check into that, and definitely ask Barb to bring home some aloe vera tonight.

      Prayers are really appreciated.

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  2. Ugh. I'm sorry you have even more pain to deal with. Continuing to pray for you and Barbara!

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    1. Rachel, thanks so much for the sympathy and the prayers...and you remain, as always, in ours.

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  3. Sad you are going through so much. I think the "secret" to most people with afflictions and trauma is having a loved one there for you, from what I read. For some, it may be religion. Going it alone is the worst. I think the aloneness is bigger than any affliction. Do you? Wishes for you to stay strong and overcome.

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    1. Sophia, you're so right...having a loved one is really vital. I could not imagine going it alone. Faith is important, too; mine's much more 'experiential' than anything else. I've seen the transcendent, the other side, so to speak, and so death does not hold terror for me.

      Aloneness is awfully hard, and I think I would not prefer being alone and healthy to being terminal and loved (by my wife and dogs, and by all of the wonderful friends I have made through this blog).

      And yes...ake ake kia kaha...forever, and be strong!

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  4. Marie, I completely agree...and this one is really, really mean. Thanks so much for the prayers. You are in mine, my friend.

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