10th birthdays

The other day, three of our cats turned ten.  This makes them around 64 human years.  The ‘boys’ as we call them have never had any other human parents; love their younger ‘brother’ Sniffles, and tolerate the dog.  But it started me thinking. I know dangerous, right?  Could we, as humans, live our entire lives with the people we love, depending our Parent to fulfill our needs?

Don’t get me wrong. They are not always happy go lucky OR calm.  They bicker with each other, Sniffles, and us.  They beat up on the dog.  They complain bitterly if they are not fed on their timetable or their litter boxes are dirty.  Sounds like humans, doesn’t it?  If we don’t get our way, we complain.  We always have.  They even try to take matters into their own hands.  For those cat owners, have you ever noticed that they will ignore every grocery sack you bring in until the meat bag is put on the counter?  Or for Moe, potato chips?  (Yes, he likes salty or sweet things.) We even tell God, “No”. They do as well. (A beloved, talkative cat that was ancient in cat years taught them to say no when they were 6 months old. He got into trouble but loved that they could now ‘talk’ back).

Like all ‘children’, there is some discipline that has been brought into their lives. A swat on the nose means “no”.  Diluted vinegar water means go away or ‘shame on you’.  A swat on the backside means that they are in trouble (if we can catch them.  They do have 4 legs instead of our disabled 2).  But sometimes “No, Stop that!” works.  But, they know they are loved.  

The cats have an advantage that we as humans do not. They can crawl in our laps and get love.  They even touch our noses with theirs for a ‘kiss’.  We must trust in the love He has promised us and is evident in our lives every day.  And our fellow humans offer us the love they give, whether it is a hug, handshake or a kiss (for those of us in a human relationship).  But when we ask the Lord for stuff, whether substance or luxury, He answers.  He never gives us a snake or a stone (unless we ask for that) and we need to remember that He cares for us.

The funny thing is that even our pets are reminders of how much He cares for us.  They love us for us and choose to live with us.  They trust us as much as we should trust in Him and quit second guessing His plans for us as He has said that He “has plans to further us and not harm’ us.

sports and friends

Have you heard of fair-weathered friends?  They are those people who are only your friend as long as it benefits them and not always you.

But what about fair-weathered fans?  I must admit that I don’t really care for the game of basketball.   I have broken far too many glasses because of getting smacked in the face. I also can’t throw over my head very well.  But how should that affect my watching basketball?  It makes me dizzy if I watch too long.

Don’t get me wrong, I support my local teams, which is why I’m watching the Mavericks today.  I like football, so I watch most games, or at least listen to them. I don’t like baseball so I just say, “Go, Rangers!!”  I can’t keep track of the hockey puck on TV, so I say “Go Stars!”  But, I will watch the Mavs if they are in the finals.  But, as a member of the population of the greater Dallas/ Ft. Worth population, I can be a bit wishy-washy about sports.  I can even like other teams and no one will get too mad at me.  One cannot be that way for a friend.

The Bible says many things about friends and how nice it is to have them.  But it also tells us to be truthful.  So, if I call you a friend, I better mean it.  That also means that I go all out to be a friend.  We love at all times, support at all times, pray for the other before we pray for ourselves.  People have even given their life for their friends.  Wow.  How many of us would do that?  Perhaps we should think about our friends the way when we were little.  Not school age per say, but when we trusted, shared, and loved.  The Lord did say that we should look to the children for faith.  I’m not adding more than what He said, but if we acted in faith towards others, wouldn’t we be better friends?  

Okay, I’ll have faith for my team. But, in the mean time, I will make every effort to be a better friend.

helping others

“It is God himself who made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus; and long ages ago he planned that we should spend these lives in helping others” (Ephesians 2:10 LB)

How do I help others?  I feel helpless half the time, depending on others to help me exist.  I know that sounds fatalistic, but sometimes I wonder how I help anybody.  Okay, I do the laundry and I cook for Jon and I but how is that helping others? I wonder if that’s enough.  Even friends who are much worse off physically help more people.  I really do wonder.  On days like today when it is obvious even to me that I’m worn out, how is that helping anyone?  I can already tell that this is going to take a while to write.  The question surfaces, “Why bother?”  Because I need to write, I need to get thoughts and feelings out that I cannot express out loud.  I really hate the MS, confusing my spoken words. 

Perhaps there are other ways I can help that don’t include speaking eloquently or creating some massive program that helps thousands. Maybe if I help support my family and friends, it is what the Lord wants from me. But, is it enough? 

• I offer my prayers for those that are in need. Is that enough?
• I try to visit the sick, how about that? I don’t get to as much as I would like because my schedule very much is my hubby’s, as I currently don’t drive and we live at least 30 minutes away from those that are sick.
• I pre-edit my hubby’s writing, as does he mine.
• I do cook for my loved ones when I get a chance, but that’s because I enjoy it.  Is it selfish or am I still helping?

I don’t know if the amount matters but the fact that I want to help others.  Perhaps it is the fact I want to help others and do what I can that matters.  Unfortunately, I will only know when He tells me, “well done, good and faithful servant.” And His opinion is the only one that counts.

Perfectionist Beware!!

Perfectionists beware.  Type A personalities should take heed as well.  In our busy, get things done as fast as you can world there is a dangerous phenomenon that lurks in the shadows.  One might think it can never hit them; they will always get things done exactly how they want them, and when they want them accomplished.  Nothing save death can stop you. You will not stop.  Wrong!  There is something that can and often waylays or even destroys our dreams.  That horrid creature of our nightmares has a name- it is called fatigue. 

Yes, fatigue, that feeling that is past tired and doesn’t even bother to give us the satisfaction of accomplishing something.  The drain on our body, mind, and even our hearts that refuses to let go of us until it is done.  We feel as if we can do nothing, think properly, or interact with others.  The plans that have been made must be cancelled or rewritten.  Projects must be stopped, never to be completed.  Even sleep won’t cure us.

Many syndromes and diseases cause this ailment. Many know I have Multiple Sclerosis, but leukemia can cause fatigue.  Diabetes, fibromyalgia, arthritis and any number of unnamed diseases can as well.   Medications can cause it.  Instead of complaining about how horrid our lives have become, what steps can we do to help control this beast?

There are medications that can battle the fatigue, if one doesn’t mind not sleeping. I think that is much worse. It leads to crying fits and panic (yes, I am admitting to that). So for a while, I did nothing, accepting the idea I was no longer who I once was. I stopped doing what I enjoyed, except for reading, because I just didn’t have the energy for it.  Then I noticed that physical therapy was helping gain energy.  

I wanted to accomplish stuff, see people, create things, and cook. I also discovered that even if I felt like there was no energy, if I tried a little more, I might be able to do it. But there were steps I had to take.

The first was to set goals. For instance, some people making A, B, and C lists helps achieve those goals.  Mondays, I do laundry.  So getting at least two loads done is my A item. I also make an effort to cook every night. That is my B item. Please note that I am saying item. This is so that energy can be conserved to do the things that are fun.  Sometimes, there is a C. For me, it is being active and pushing myself a little.  But, just a little, or I will crash and end up useless for a day, maybe even two.  This brings up the second point.

Know your limits. Therapy taught me to notice signs that my body was tiring. For me, it is often mental, where I can’t remember the words for things or can’t think straight. When you start to notice those signs, SLOW down; wind up what you are doing.  Take a rest. The signals can be and often are very different for different people.  But that’s okay, God made us to be individuals. Help those around to also notice the signs as well, so if you overdid, they can help you to stop and rest.  There have been days that I’m so tired, I don’t even exercise, even though I know it’s key to fighting off the fatigue and spasming. 

The third is that unless you are doing something that has a set time limit, it is okay to get up and walk away. It will still be there. It has taken me three days to write this blog, but that is okay. If there is a set time limit, rest beforehand. It really does help.  I also have a really understanding husband that unfortunately battles the same thing.  Both of us work in spurts.  There have been times when he starts a meal and I finish it, or vice versa. 

Finally, know what refreshes you. Don't feel guilty that you are now different than before fatigue started to affect you.  My reward is reading a book or enjoying good food that we prepared. Even playing with the dog can be rewarding.  If I did overdo a bit, I might still reward myself with a bath. Many times it soothes away some of the pain. 

 

Maybe what I’m trying to say is that even if one fights fatigue, life is not a loss.  It is more about making goals and knowing your body.  It can be maddening, frightening, and feel extremely limiting.  But I try to remember "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me". - 2 Corinthians 12:9. I might even beat the MonSter some.

What should I write about now?

What should I write about now?  I obviously can’t type or spell today so maybe I shouldn’t write.  Or maybe I should to quiet the thoughts that run through my head at 29 miles an hour.  I meant to say 20 but seeing that I can’t type today, it came out incorrectly.  I also just noticed that as I continue to write that my vocabulary is becoming more mature.  I know that Jon has a big problem with my spacing but when one writes at least one paper a week, one gets accustomed to it.  But I will try to go back to typing/ writing in MLA, for that apparently is how the world writes.  Excuse me; I need to correct more typing mistakes.

I am writing for I remember an English teacher telling her students to just write. Or maybe that was a movie. “Finding Forrester” rocks by the way. And not just because it stars Sean Connery. I know that was both a fragment and started with a conjunction.  I did it to make a point.  I have always considered my writing to be under par in some aspects.  It needs to get better.  I desperately need it to get better because it is a form of communication that is becoming lost in this mind numbing society.  I also know it can be better.

How long has it been since you picked up a classic and read it simply to know what it said?  By classic I mean over 150 years old, preferably longer. I am not referring to the Bible, although that also needs to be read. I read Dante last month and I enjoyed it. I really enjoyed it.  How many people in this country would do something like this, or would they just look it up on Google or Wikipedia?  How lazy and complacent our society has become.  Another conjunction and another misspelling have occurred. Excuse me.  When did this happen?  Why did it happen?  The typing I will blame on the MS and in some respects the spelling.  But I also blame it on the fact that Word tells me I spelled something wrong, it tells me I have written a fragment.  Perhaps this country is falling behind because we are becoming too dependent on technology.  I am no different. I read books on my phone, my addresses are on my computer or phone and my handwriting is atrocious.  A combination of MS and not caring is to fault for that. But I really don’t care. My joke is always, “my dad was a Corpsman and you know how doctors and such write. He taught me to write.” This is not true very much at all.  He wasn’t around much until I was 13!  I did try to copy him, though because I thought his handwriting was much cooler that my mother’s neat script. Last year, I tried to hand write a note to Jon in his birthday card and I couldn’t read it!! That’s really bad handwriting.  Someone told that they don’t even teach script anymore!  I’ve lived in a country where they teach three different ways to write. Yes, in Japan, there are 3, count them, 3 ways to write. Sometimes I really wonder about this country.

I am by no means saying that it is not difficult to teach. Maybe if we weren’t teaching tests it would be better. It might even bring back the joy of learning.. Ah, but that’s a whole other subject…