For some people many things in life come easily, for them I am very happy; for others, life tends to throw curve-balls and hit them in the most inconvenient times. My week has been a series of curve-balls thrown at me rapidly and consistently. This week started out great, fundraising at my church was a big success, school was going good, and then WHACK out of nowhere I got hit with stomach pains and a cold. What started out as stomach aches evolved into severe pain which led me to the hospital Friday morning. After a series of blood tests and CT scans they still are unsure what is the cause of the issue. I count myself blessed that a surgical procedure was not needed.
For most of my life education, the arts, and sports have come easily and I might say quite naturally; however, my health is kind of like a roller coaster filled with many hills and valleys. It all started when I was ten years old, I began to get dizzy spells that would cause me to collapse in my bedroom. As a carefree child I didn’t think much of it and pushed the issue to the side. Fast forward to my seventh grade year I got struck with mono, strep throat, and fifth disease simultaneously. I missed the first full two weeks of school and could only attend school for half-days four weeks into the school year. My Junior year I caught a common virus but ended up in the hospital after passing out due to a protruded xiphoid. Because of this I was unable to try out for sports and had to sit out of PE for a solid month. Up until this week I was riding in the valley of the roller coaster where my health was stable and I could function normally, and now I am heading back down the slope hoping to rest easy in the valley until a few more years.
I am not sharing this with you to make you feel sorry for me, I am sharing this with you because I believe that God has given me so many strengths through my trials. With each trial I face I am forced to turn to the Lord and humble myself as His daughter and beg Him for healing. I am given the chance to connect with Him in a much more real way than when I can depend on myself when I am strong and healthy. He allows me to endure such pain and sickness so that I can remember who I am and where I come from; my body may endure sickness and disease because it belongs to this world, but my soul does not belong to this world it belongs to a place much greater and beautiful than this one we live in.
Throughout my trials I have found a surreal peace in Christ, a resting place, a strength, a joy, a love that is undying and faithful. I count myself blessed to be able to experience these trials and sufferings because they have helped me grow into the woman I am today and they make me grow stronger in my faith and in my relationship with God. I would never wish that anyone fall ill or get hurt but I do hope that throughout your trials and tribulations you will turn to the Lord and seek His help and look toward His face. I hope that you can remember where you come from and from whom you come from. We must all strive to reach the same goal, the same destination and with the support of each other we can hopefully unite together as one under God in heaven.
” I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” – Philippians 4:13
