Takes the stuffing out...

It's been a hard day, but I've been encouraged and supported all day.Through the Psalms, today He has been the " health of my countenance", in prayer He has comforted me and let me cry silently. Don't think I'm amazing and brave, because I'm not... with His help I can put on a brave face but ... today I decided enough languishing in bed (although Tassie's hello to Autumn makes bed the cheapest warm place to be) I would get up, do some housework, bath, try out the new lingerie and then reward myself with a sit down in the rocking chair in the sunny lounge.

In the grieving process, denial is the "up" stage, but reality is obvious, the big wink is there. In my prayers and tears, I know I have no anger, so acceptance is what I've got so let's get on with it. Alone with my reflection the "sock" is fitted into the lingerie... whoops! two on the right is not a good look.

Refitted, and on, but nooo, that size "small" is well, not as small, so out comes some stuffing. Mmm. More stuffing out, then more (is this the magic show in the fairground? - it's like pulling out hankies all the same colour!) Enough already. I feel like the stuffings coming out of me. Lopsided is the New Black. It'll get a look anyway.

Cancer is well known and fairly well understood. A new study I read, if my brain understood correctly, had to be discontinued because not enough people died. It gets a lot of attention and a lot of sympathy. I get cards or flowers, messages and phone calls everyday. And I appreciate them and am cheered and uplifted by them. But either this "evil disease" will kill me or I will be that much lauded person, the "Cancer Survivor". The researchers, fundraisers for research, the Breast Cancer Nurses and all the doctors should be lauded for what they do.

But there are many diseases and conditions that do not get this type of response because they are not understood. There is little or no funding for research, and because people don't understand it, it gets put to the side, it makes people uncomfortable, so it's hard for them to talk to the person so afflicted, to reach out and be God's human hand. Often the person so afflicted, cannot accept the Hand.

I speak of Depression and of Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome. Persons I love are afflicted with one or both of these. It takes the stuffing out... and yet they too have to get up, but without the messages, calls, the "how are you today?" the flowers and cards. Now that's brave. That's amazing.