Re: The positive side of trials

[Guest guest]

Positive Sidee? Maybe - Maybe not! More like Insight or a revelation.

I realize that just because someone doesn't limp away from their car

when they are parked in a handicapped spot doesn't mean that aren't

in pain or that they don't have a problem!

Keri/MI

> Reading Al's insightful email about things he has gained from his

illness

> made me want to share a story.

>

> Today I had two young friends from my church come to lunch with my

family.

> They are college age, and really nice young men. The one looks

like a

> football player and is extremely handsome (but I don't think of him

in that

> light, just an observation) and I suppose I had a preconceived

notion that

> everything came easily to him. Shame on me! Anyway, we were

discussing

> trials and he shared that he has severe hearing difficulties. He

wears a

> hearing aid, but it's not visible unless you really know what

you're looking

> for. He said when he was young he couldn't understand why the Lord

chose to

> give him this cross to bear, and would refuse to wear the hearing

aid (they

> were larger ones) when he socialized with his friends. He said he

couldn't

> really hear and participate in conversations, and as much as he

wanted to be

> popular it never happened because of this. At the wise age of 20,

he

> realizes that the most popular kids are the ones who face the most

> temptation with drugs, alcohol and having to fit in. He said he's

truly

> grateful for his hearing difficulty, because it kept him on the

path he

> needed to be on. He's going to school to teach deaf children.

What an

> awesome kid!

>

> Anyway, just like Al's able to spend more time with his children and

> probably appreciates the activities he is able to do more than

someone who

> has no difficulty in accomplishing them, we all probably have

things in our

> life that have been positively affected by our illness. I know for

me, I'm

> more able to empathize with others' pain because of what I go

through. I am

> also more grateful for the activities I'm able to accomplish: be it

my

> education, travel, or an outing with family. And, of course, I

wouldn't

> have all of you wonderful people in my life if it weren't for the

RA. I

> love each and every one of you and appreciate you in my life.

>

> Does anyone else have something they've gained through their trials?

>

> Love and hugs and prayers for a pain free weekend,

> Carol