“It is in moments of illness that we are compelled to recognize that we live not alone but chained to a creature of a different kingdom, whole worlds apart, who has no knowledge of us and by whom it is impossible to make ourselves understood: our body.”~~Marcel Proust

Due to a flare-up, I have been useless for the last five days. I even missed my self-imposed blog post deadline yesterday. I apologize in case anyone noticed. But thankfully, I am returning to the land of the living today.

A friend found the Proust quote that sums up my situation mighty well. It does seem as though I am trapped in a body that is totally alien and disconnected from who I am and what I want to accomplish. Yet this frustration serves to remind me of my faith and the love and support of my family and friends. I am so thankful that this life is temporary, and that God promises his children an eternity spent with a new body that has no pain or sorrow or tears.

Today however, I would gladly accept my physical pain and limitations if it could somehow take away the sorrow and grief of my family and friends who are suffering heartbreak today. I talk often about invisible disabilities, and ask my students and presentation attendees to give people the benefit of the doubt if things seem not quite right. I think perhaps a broken heart is another form of an invisible chronic disability.

This week, in my small circle of family and friends, a cousin has taken his own life, two teenagers were suddenly uprooted and moved out of state without being able to say goodbye to friends due to a judge’s custody ruling, a friend waits to find out if he has lung cancer, a half dozen people are unemployed and desperately seeking jobs, two are fighting mental illness, one was in a car accident and was seriously hurt, and one young mother is laid up due to a damaged knee. These are just the ones I know about. Then consider the ripple effect on the family members and friends of each of these.

The old joke is that no one gets out of this life alive, but we must also remember that none of us go through life without hurts and scars either. I am grateful that none of us has to go through life alone. I rely on my God, my family, and my friends to see me through the hard times, and am honored and blessed to do what I can to help lighten their burdens when the table turns.

This isn’t the lighthearted cheerful “This is my Life Tuesday” post I had planned to write, but this is my life today, and today my heart is breaking for those I love. I beg all who read this to be kind and compassionate to people you happen upon who seem a bit off. We have no way of knowing what invisible hurt (physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual) that person is dealing with.

Wishing all Peace and Love today…