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Faith believes when common sense tells you not to.  Mixed with attitude which is the ability to see and maintain the positive amidst the medical mayhem; they infuse your world with the courage and strength to persevere.  They are an attitude adjustment elixir with the power to heal.

We must ask the question: “Are my circumstances refining me or defining me?” Defining leaves us hopeless but refining us brings hope.

Faith is turning mayhem into a meaningful purpose.  We must not focus on the circumstances but on Christ; for seeing only the bad obscures the good.

At 5:30 am on the morning of my lumpectomy we were traveling to Martin Memorial Hospital when I had a sudden attack of fear.  I was so afraid that we had to find an open gas station because that fear went right through me and out the other end!

Upon enter a small pre op procedure room I was amazed at the state of the art equipment. This pre-procedure would be to insert a guide wire into each of my breasts encircling the area that would be removed.  My breast would be numbed and the whole procedure was done via computer, of which I could watch the whole thing on the computer monitor.  I was fascinated as I literally watched it being inserted and curling around the area in question.

Until I was told to sit up and remove my breast from the hole in the table. That was when I noticed that where my breast had been was now covered in blood.  My Blood!  It was in that second that all I could think of was for me and my puppies to go home!

I quickly lifted up a prayer “Oh, God, Help me!” And with that I felt a wind come through me and as I breathed out my body seemed to go lose and limp.  My fear turned into faith for the asking and I knew I would be okay.

So much so the nurse commented “Mrs. Schoen, you are doing great!”

Keep Christ in the driver’s seat.  You do this by spending daily time in prayer and study. There is a saying that says “A day hemmed in prayer is less likely to unravel”.   I like to start my day with a devotional and end my day practicing Thankful Therapy – Even if that prayer of thanksgiving is “Thank you, God that this day is done!” J  “Popcorn prayers’ and ‘mini moments” with God help me get through my day filled with medical adversity.  I try to find God in the smallest things – a seasoned lab technician at Quest Diagnostic who draws my blood without me even feeling a pinch!  YES!  Find God breathing life in you through a breeze in an otherwise hot-oven-Florida day or bringing a sense of peace at the siting of a deer and its baby on an early morning walk.  Each small blessing helps me to see that I am not alone when facing my day.  It takes patience and practice to see the good that still surrounds us throughout the mayhem.

Rick Warren states: “Life is like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something good and something bad in your life.

Happy Moments, PRAISE GOD,

Difficult moments, SEEK GOD,

Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD,

Painful moments, Trust GOD,

Every moment, THANK GOD.

The first day, I was introduced to Radiation Therapy, when the machine began, the noise was so loud that it felt like my heart was in my throat and the first verse that jumped into my mind was Psalm 91:4.  Psalm 91:4 tells us “The Lord will cover you with his feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge.  His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart”.   I repeatedly said this every morning of my 6 weeks of radiation therapy and it help provide me with a sense of calm.

During my two hip replacements and two hip dislocations Habakkuk 3:19 Amplified Bible has been my balm for pain: “The Lord God is my strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army.”  For though I sometimes feel and know that I cannot handle what is before me, I have the certainty that God can and will.

Surround yourself with people who are positive and have a “can do” attitude.  Seek out others of your faith through fellowship and bible studies.  Participate in community service as much as you are able. There is strength in numbers, and God places people in our lives as angels to assist where needed.

I would like to end this three part series by reminding you that while you may be feeling overwhelmed, frightened and feeling lost in medical mayhem; know you are not alone and it is survivable.

Arming yourself with learning (medical knowledge), laughing (humor) and leaning on God (faith) can help you survive and even thrive through medical adversity.  Our physical circumstances do not need to dictate the quality of the life God has planned for us.  We must keep our inner spirit at peace and feel joy, even as our outer self may be withering.  It’s hard to do especially when there is pain.  And it’s alright to be sad or even angry as the circumstances take shape.  But don’t let it take up permanent residence by constantly yelling and screaming in a car, removing ourselves from community, or allowing our circumstances to blind us from seeing that there is hope and beauty in our lives even as we struggle with medical mayhem.

In the song, All is Well with My Soul, Matt Redman tells us that “scars are a sign of grace in our lives and how the Father has brought us through.

We may have scars, we may lose some parts, but with the three medicines of learning, laughing and leaning on God –  it will be well with our souls.

 

Thank you for reading my post.  If you have found it encouraging please consider liking, commenting or sharing it.  Feel free to even re-blog – may these words take flight!

I have additional insights I’d love to share with you found in the pages of my debut book: Surviving Medical Mayhem – Laughing When It Hurts.  To order a copy or learn more go to my website at www.lorettaschoen.com

Blessings for Health & Wellness.