Free Meal Delivery Printable Labels to Give A Special Touch

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When one is chronically ill, and a friend wishes to help her, the first thing that comes to mind is to bring her a meal. In fact, since the most popular gift to bring is a meal, I wrote the book, Beyond Casseroles: 505 Ways to Encourage a Chronically Ill Friend to get people to think beyond food. Having said, that, however, a meal is a gift of comfort. And even though we may be physically able to cook, it takes a burden off of us so that we can use the energy we would have spent cooking doing something else. I have discovered that many people who cook for the chronically ill are actually ill themselves. Though it is easy to understand new mommies and those who have just had surgery are in need of meals, those who see a chronically ill … [Read more...]

Q&A: How Can I Let People Know Their Perfume is Making Me Sick?

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I have Multiple Chemical Sensitivities and when people who are wearing perfume want to hug me they transfer their scent to my clothing! How can we let people know that their perfume is having the opposite intended effect on some people? That to someone with MCS, their perfume is about 20 times more intense and nauseating! I'm not comfortable saying, "Hi there! No offense, but your perfume makes me gag! No, I can't sit next to you!" If I were king, I'd lump perfume with cigarette smoke and ban it in public places! Sorry you perfume lovers-- nothing personal. I am just trying to breathe and be healthy. --Semi-silent sufferer, attending church on-line Dear Semi-silent sufferer, You are definitely not alone! Although many assume this … [Read more...]

When Illness Threatens to Make You Feel Invisible

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I once heard the comparison that life with chronic illness was sort of like "living in the parenthesis." It can sound like a bad Christmas letter. . . We have had the most fabulous year (despite mom being in the hospital a couple of weeks). We had a wonderful trip to the lake and went camping (mom stayed in a motel nearby) and everyone waterskiied and sunbathed (except mom, she can't be in the sun or ski so she just watched from under a canopy). We went to see the caves (mom couldn't walk the stairs so she just rested at the motel). We are looking forward to getting together with you this year (Mom can't travel so we hope you can visit us!) Does life ever feel that way? Over in the Rest Ministries Sunroom Bet shared her heart on … [Read more...]

Today Starts Invisible Illness Week

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Today starts Invisible Illness Awareness Week. Each day there will be a post at the Invisible Illness Week website (our sister site)  on the podcasts we are "featuring" that day. I began this in 2002 and it's reached out to hundreds of thousands of people over the years, encouraging them that they are not alone. This year we will not be having a "live show." I made this decision earlier in the year for many reasons, and have been glad I listened to the Lord's instruction. August I was sick most of the month from an allergic reaction to a medication. The day after my son returned to school, for the first time in 15 years my computer had it's hard drive go bad. (On an 18-month old computer!) It was at the shop a  week and just I it … [Read more...]

Raise Your Hands If You Really Love Jesus

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Shannon Dingle Last month, my church hosted a large women's conference. We put it on every other year, and it is truly a blessing. I really loved our musicians this time and enjoyed worshiping with other women from different churches and neighborhoods and backgrounds. Such a sweet glimpse of what heaven--plus men and children, of course--has in store for us! It was especially sweet to have this time, while my sweet husband was home with our two preschoolers, because I was in pain that weekend. I have rheumatoid arthritis, and my IV meds had worn off with three weeks before the next dose. Some movements gave me the sensation of needles in my joints, which isn't so pleasant (and some lack of movement did the same, but there wasn't … [Read more...]

Invisible Illness Week News to Know

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National Invisible Illness Awareness Week will be held this year September 12-18, 2011. This annual event is sponsored by Rest Ministries and Lisa Copen began it in the year 2002. Here are things to know: [1] Spiritual Warfare is Happenin'! In less than a week Lisa has received more mean-spirited e-mails and comments did in past years combined. There is a lot of spiritual warfare going on even among those who live with illness. Many of them want National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week to specifically serve those who are atheists (and proud of it) as well as those who live with "alternative lifestyles." Despite the fact that most all illness support online is for a secular audience, people want to stir up controversy for the … [Read more...]

Invisible Illness Theme Announced!

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It's that time! We've announced our theme for National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week 2011: "Deep Breath, Start Fresh." Founder Lisa Copen shares how to get involved in this video. If you are unable to view the video in an email or RSS feed see it here: About 2011 Invisible Illness Awareness Week.   After much thought and prayer, Lisa has decided to not have a virtual conference this year. "To be honest, the conference takes a lot of time, my energy and money. It is an exhausting 3 months of preparation, follow through, and recovery for me," Lisa shares. "At this time, I'd love to focus more on better meeting the needs of those here at Rest Ministries, such as the Summer Study, finishing up some Bible studies, and … [Read more...]

Why, As Christians, We Must Go Beyond “You Look So Good!”

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I recently had a pastor asked me, "If someone comes to church who is chronically ill and they have not looked great recently, and now they look better than usual, is it not okay to then say 'You look so good'?" I thought about it for a moment and replied, "Well, if it was me, I would think, 'Gee, I must have been looking really terrible!' As much as I intellectually know it is a compliment, it would not make me feel good, but rather worse about myself." "I understand what you're saying," said another woman. "Because it is still a comment on our outward appearance." Scripture tells us, "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7) When we … [Read more...]

We Really Need to Talk: Authors of “Sick and Tired of Feeling Sick and Tired” Have New Book on Communication

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By: Paul J. Donoghue, PhD and Mary E. Siegel, PhD We all need to talk to relieve tension within us and to connect with people who matter to us. But those of us who are ill really need to talk. Illness threatens our well being, evokes strong emotions, heightens our needs, and makes us more dependent on others. To cope well with all these factors we need to talk. Yet illness often leads us to isolate, to retreat into out own world of pain, fatigue, vulnerability, and fear. When we emerge from our silence, we frequently drive away those we need by blurting our thoughts formed by fear. Blame: You don't care! You don't understand! You only think of yourself. Hopeless remarks: Why don't you just leave me? I can't take it … [Read more...]

“But You LOOK Good!” Book Explains How This Hurts Sometimes

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Did you know that most people who have a chronic illness would prefer not to be told we look good. It’s not that those of us who are ill want to be told we look awful, but the comments on our “looks” seem to say, “You can’t really feel as bad as you say you do, since you look fine.” Those we love don’t always understand this. And though we know we cannot change other people, if those who love us do want to know what encourages us or what makes us feel like throwing something across the room, these tips can be helpful, right? Well, along comes a booklet that tons of people have said, “This is the best book I’ve ever read…” “But You LOOK Good: A Guide to Understanding and Encouraging People with Chronic, … [Read more...]

Devotion – Being Authentic About Our Illness So God Can Be Glorified

"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds & praise your Father in heaven."(Matthew 5:16) In having "silent" chronic illnesses, such as fibromyalgia & epilepsy, I have found some people do not underst& the symptoms & feelings I experiencing, such as the deep muscle pain, fatigue or the fear constantly inside of me over when the next seizure would come. I wouldn't tell anyone. I felt all alone in the world. However, when I made the choice to change my attitude toward the illness, everything changed for the better. I prayed & lifted up my symptoms & paralyzing feelings to God. I was no longer embarrassed by not being able to do as much as other friends of mine could do. If a friend asked if … [Read more...]

Half USA Lives with Chronic Condition

For years now I've been saying that 1 in 3 people in the USA lived with a chronic condition. . . & then it went to nearly 1 in 2. When I speak I often remind people that if it's not them, it's likely someone beside them. The person in line at the bank who is fidgeting (because she can't st& for long) or the woman at the grocery store who leaves her cart (because she needs to go rest for a few minutes.) So today when I saw a similar news story, I thought "Yay! Confirmation." You can watch the video below or read the actual news story here at KOB.com's web site, >"Almost Have The Country Has a Chronic Illness." Related articles by Zemanta 1 in 4 Chronically Ill Elderly Lives Alone (nlm.nih.gov) Only With God's Strength … [Read more...]

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