One of my friends from my teaching days recently posted an entry on her blog about Perspective. I read through her post about a fellow blogger whom neither she nor I know personally but who suffered a terrible plane accident and was burned on 80% of her body. My friend posted a link to her story that was aired on Oprah which I will do also here:
http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahshow/20090924-tows-stephanie-plane-crash.
After reading about this amazing mother of 4's struggle and courageousness, it really did give me perspective too. I recently have been suffering through some very difficult joint pain which I thought may be attributed to my fibromyalgia condition, but which now is thought to be something entirely different by my doctors. The pain has rendered me to tears at some times and at other times extreme frustration. At times I can't use my hands to do normal tasks like comb the girls' hair, open a door, type on the computer, drive the car without feeling sharp pain and swelling in all of my joints, and to sew has become almost nonexistent. I'm not writing about these things to complain. This will all be figured out and I will go on as normal in spite of the pain. The thing I gained perspective on in hearing of this other mother's struggle is not in that she truly suffers more pain than I do (I believe pain is relative to each individual person and their particular situation). My perspective was gained in how she is dealing with the situation she has been dealt in life. I have become angry about the pain I am suffering because it has all but stopped me from doing my embroidery business, Josie-Bea Originals. This other mother struggles too with where her life is going with her injuries and burdens from the trauma she suffered. The perspective I regained from her is that no matter how hard our struggles may be, it is about our attitude towards that struggle that matters most and our dependency upon a Higher Power which brings us through the difficult times and makes us take stock of what is really important in life. Josie-Bea Originals has been a wonderful blessing, but it also has consumed my every waking moment leaving my children, friends, husband, family, house hold, etc. to suffer some form of neglect from me not being able to be more attentive. I believe God has specials ways of making us slow down and take a closer look at what really does matter. Through this sudden onset of extreme joint pain, I think God is asking me to slow down, come nearer again to Him and be not dependent on my own desires of success for myself, but on His desires of success for me. I take on this pain with new found dependence on my Heavenly Father as well as regained perspective on what is really important in life.
Emma-Caroline and Sophie love having pets to care for. They each help to feed Lucy and Barkley their breakfast and dinner everyday and Emma-Caroline helps me replenish Paulo's food and water each day as well. Emma-Caroline has become especially fond of Paulo and enjoys spending time with him, taking him to her room and placing him in her doll beds so "he can be more comfortable." This little practice is not one in which I readily condone as pets have a proper home, but I do love her enthusiasm and care for her pets. Recently Emma-Caroline has begun asking me what Paulo is saying when he coos and sings for us. At first I told her, 'Oh he is just singing about how happy he is." But that response did not satisfy Emma-Caroline. She just knew he was saying something much more profound. So has begun our conversations with Paulo. Sometimes Paulo helps me parent by "saying" go brush your teeth or it's time for you to go to bed. Who knows, perhaps Emma-Caroline is right and Paulo's coos are more than just singing. Perhaps we have a little Dr. Doolittle right in our mists in Emma-Caroline.
