Seven...

I’m sorry I haven’t been on here much lately.  I’ve had a rough time health-wise.  Most of you know that I have an autoimmune disease.  It limits me at times.  I have good days and bad days.  My health is up and down.  It is very unpredictable and extremely frustrating to say the least.  The disease is not necessarily life-threatening, but life-altering.  It is called Myasthenia Gravis.  I have a worst case scenario of it according to my neurologist.  To sum it up it weakens all of my muscles… affecting my vision, ability to swallow, talk, walk, stand, lift my arms, etc….   Some times I am ok and other times I have flare-ups where everything is weak.  I was bed-ridden for three months at the beginning before I was diagnosed.  I am on medicine to help make things more stable and normal for me, but the meds I take to feel better all have side-effects that make things worse.   

My doctor is amazing and has done everything possible to try to get me into remission.  He has even consulted other specialists for alternate options to get me healthy.  We have tried most everything.  Currently I am having a special treatment that could throw me into remission for one to three years.  There are risks involved, but the possible benefits far outweigh those risks.  I have to go to the Indy IU Medical Hospital one day a week for four weeks to have these IV treatments.  I will not feel the full effects of the treatments until about six weeks after the last one (which is tomorrow) putting it around Christmas time.  That would mean by the first of the year I could have a new me… YAY!!!

As I have been reflecting lately about all of this and how long I have been sick, something interesting came to mind.  My boys were talking recently about something and I heard one of them say to the other… “Didn’t you know God’s favorite number is seven?”  I thought about that for a minute and realized.  The first of the year will mark seven years having been sick.  Wouldn’t it be awesome to experience God’s healing touch this Christmas and begin a new year symptom-free?  I believe God can use doctors to heal.  Lord let it be.  You might be surprised the next time you see me in 2013… I might be a lot perkier than you remember.  One thing I have missed the most being sick is the “energy” to do whatever I want whenever I want.  I definitely took that for granted in the past.  My boys drive me crazy with all of their energy at times.  I wish I could just have a portion of it to ration out each day for myself to use and save in reserve.  It could make all the difference some days.

This sickness has wreaked havoc on my life, but it has not won.  I chose from the very beginning to give it all to God…. the good days and the bad.  I can’t say that it has been easy, but with God’s help daily I have continued to move forward.  I have held onto the scripture found in Genesis 50:20…

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” (NLT)

I believe God can turn any bad situation around for good if we let Him.  I can’t believe all of the people I have been able to encourage and pray for as a result of my experiences being sick.  I just want to be a tool in God’s hands through all seasons of my life… the good and the bad.  For some reason it seems God touches others most during our seemingly darkest and lowest times.

Since being sick more people have opened up their lives to me.  They share openly and I have heard more than once recently… “I have never told anyone this before.”  Why me?  I don’t know.  They must feel bad for me or something or they are drawn to God in me and the faith I draw from within.  No matter what the reason, I am ready and available to be a vessel for God to use.  If this sickness can be a tool to minister to others so be it.  I never want to waste a moment I can be using for God.

We are each given one life to live.  I want to make mine count for something.  I want to leave behind a legacy… a trail of faith to believe God for the impossible.  Seven… I am already excited about 2013.  I am filled with hope for the future.  How about you?  What will you do with your one life?  I encourage you to make it count for something today.

Living to leave a legacy,

Julie