“Then he said to them, ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.’ ” Matthew 26:38 (NIV)
Jesus’ words here resonate with me. There have been so many times when I just wanted to scream “I feel so alone! I can’t do this by myself.” I have a wonderful husband and loving friends, yet I can still feel so alone.
The key word here is “feel.” Mary Addison’s seizures seem to have the power to consume me to the point of losing everything else – my identity, my social life, my health, etc. Seizures become my excuse for all of my shortcomings or failings. I can become so overwhelmed by our situation that I don’t have the time or inclination to work on other projects, relationships, interests or passions, leaving me feeling alone.
That may be how I “feel,” but the truth is, nothing and no one can ruin our lives and our relationships unless we give them the power to. It’s all about perspective. I may “feel” alone, but that is not the truth of the situation. When I reframe my thinking around the truth, the pity party ends and connectivity returns.
- I am not alone. God is with me – not just as a phantom, but someone who loves Mary Addison more than I do and who has the power to do whatever is best for her and for all of us (and that is not necessarily healing seizures).
- I am not alone. Mary Addison is with me. She is the one who has to struggle with her disabilities daily. I’ve just been called to love and serve her. We’re in this together!
- I am not alone. There are friends, family, support groups, government programs, community volunteers, etc. who want to help. I have to be humble enough to ask and then I have to LET them help us, their way.
Consider:
Has becoming a caregiver cost you any important relationships? How?
During this time, with whom have you remained close? Why?
How do you keep from “feeling” alone?
Go to the Facebook Page and share your remedies for feelings of loneliness and isolation.