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Topic: Peace (03/15/04)
TITLE: Finding Peace with Pain By Rebecca Daniels 03/21/04 |
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Cindy wasn’t sure what to do. She had been to doctors and they told her they found nothing wrong. Yet she was in pain and she had no energy. There were times she would cry because she didn’t know what else to do. Martin, her husband, couldn’t understand what she was going through; nobody could.
Cindy had grown up an active child playing basketball and softball. She had held a part-time job throughout her last two years of high school and went straight to college after graduating. That’s where she met Martin. They married a year later and lived in wedded bliss until Cindy’s ailments started affecting her ability to function.
Cindy’s neighbor was a few years older than her and loved the chance to talk to Cindy. Myra, the neighbor, was a devout Christian. She never missed a church service and had tried to get Cindy to accompany her, but Cindy always had an excuse not to go. However, today something told Myra to go visit Cindy. She found Cindy with swollen, red eyes and knew something was wrong. “Tell me Cindy, please” Myra asked. All Cindy could do was cry. So Myra played the guessing game trying to figure out what was going on. When she got to “your health” Cindy had nodded yes.
“I’m in pain all the time. My muscles feel like they are over-worked and I’m so tired. After sleeping all night I feel like I’m more tired than when I went to bed. I’ve been to the doctors; they say my blood work is fine. But I’m not fine” said Cindy between sobs. Myra hugged her until she calmed down. “Cindy, I know why God sent me here today. I think you have the same thing I do. It’s called fibromyalgia and there are no blood tests to diagnose it. I’m going to give you my doctor’s name and I want you to make an appointment with him. I’ll bring you over a pamphlet to tell you about what you’re dealing with here” informed Myra. Cindy couldn’t believe it. Myra never acted sick. Cindy had never seen her down. But just the thought of knowing what was causing all her pain and fatigue was enough to give Cindy a light at the end of the tunnel.
When Martin came home from work Cindy had read through the pamphlet and had made herself an appointment with Myra’s doctor. “Its called fibromyalgia and nobody knows what causes it for sure. Its severe pain in the muscles and soft tissues along with fatigue. There are sleep disorders also. Myra has been diagnosed for five years and look at her. You would never know anything is wrong” said Cindy. “Wow, that’s great Cindy. When do you see the doctor?” he asked. “Day after tomorrow” she answered.
Myra went with Cindy to the doctor. Afterwards they had a long chat about the road ahead of Cindy. “There are days you won’t feel like getting out of the bed. The pain can be anywhere from mild to severe; it may be sharp and stabbing or dull and aching. It may affect one muscle group or it may be all of them. But you will never be totally out of pain. And the fatigue is relentless. You have to take advantage when you have a little energy; you have to learn your limitations. The prescription he gave you will help you sleep which will help the pain. The bad news is you will probably always have it but the good news is it isn’t fatal. There are other symptoms that accompany it in many people, such as irritable bowel syndrome, multiple chemical sensitivities, cognitive or memory impairment, muscle twitching, or even impaired coordination or depression. I know it sounds distressing but in time you will learn” explained Myra. “Oh Myra, will I ever be able to live my life as I once knew it?” Cindy asked. “No, but you will learn what you can and can’t do. The important thing is to keep moving” explained Myra. She left Cindy a few minutes later; she knew there was a lot of thinking to do on Cindy’s part.
For the next few weeks Cindy learned all she could about her malady. She became depressed to the point she was never leaving the house. She and Martin were having marital problems and he was threatening separation to try and get Cindy out of her shell. He visited Myra in hopes of finding an answer. “How do you do it Myra? You say you have the same pain and debilitating fatigue Cindy does, yet you haven’t given up. What is your secret?” Martin asked his neighbor. “The answer is simple, Martin. I was like Cindy for many years. I totally gave up on life. I didn’t get out of the bed for two months once. Then one day the answer came. I hadn’t the power to do anything, but I was ignoring the One who could. So I got on my knees and didn’t get up until I was sure Jesus heard my plea. From that point I haven’t stopped living. Some people ask why my God, if He’s so great, hasn’t healed me. For whatever reason, God has kept me in this situation, I don’t know why, but He does. And my faith tells me it is for a reason. No, I’m never totally out of pain, but I can have peace in my heart. All I have to do is talk to Jesus and he fills my heart with a peace that only He can”.
Martin was speechless. He went home and told Myra’s story to Cindy. The following Sunday both Cindy and Martin went to church and they both felt their heart under conviction. They were saved and have been active Christians since. Both Myra and Cindy still battle the pain and fatigue, but they have each other, and they have the Master of Peace living in their hearts.