by Louise Amorelli
A few years ago, I was diagnosed with an illness that severely limits my activities, including working outside the home. This illness causes extreme mental and physical fatigue along with muscle pain and sleepless nights. What is even more frustrating is that there is no known cure and the doctors do not seem to know what causes it. It has been one of the hardest and debilitating challenges I have ever experienced in my entire life. I often ask myself… why?? Why does God allow me to experience this? What am I to learn from this overwhelming health trial??
For a while, I was feeling sorry for myself… and at times I still do. But I have learned so many important lessons, including drawing closer to God. Not only to continually ask for His healing power, guidance and more of His faith, but drawing closer to Him to know Him better and accept whatever His Will is for me. I know that I have God’s promise that all things work together for the good of those who love Him. Instead of asking why, I now seek to have more spiritual understanding. I have learned and am still learning patience, empathy, longsuffering, never to give up and to put all things into God’s Hands, not my own. I am learning to completely give myself over to Him.
I have also pondered on how am I to help God’s work… to help my brethren in need, if I am in this condition? What can I do to help?? I have realized that accepting the illness, instead of constantly battling with it, has given me great insight. I realized that I might not be physically able to do things as I would like to, but I can be a light to those around me by striving to live God’s Way. Through the sufferings I can show God’s joy and peace. This enables me to comfort others and to be uplifting to those in need, by writing cards, emails and phone calls. It enables me most of all… to pray for others!! Although it can be very difficult at times, I strive to live by the understanding that spiritual gifts can be more valuable than the physical ones!
