If someone had said to me over the last few years, I was lethargic and lazy and must pull myself together, I would probably have felt like hitting them. As a good Christian, I would of course restrain myself? Some may have thought it but kept quiet. The fact is, you just don’t say that sort of thing to someone with chronic fatigue syndrome – CFS/CFIDS/ME – or a similar chronic illness. Right now however, there is some truth in the statement.
It took quite a while for me to learn to be kind to myself. After all it was probably because of the lack of that, because I was pushing myself, that was one of the contributing factors to the illness in the first place. But there is a difference between looking after yourself and over indulgent comfort. I found that the years of fatigue can have a dulling, if not soporific effect upon the mind and body and it is possible to develop ‘lazy’ habits and attitudes that can become the norm.
Now that I am in recovery – by that I mean most of the peripheral symptoms have long gone and the levels of fatigue are much lower – there is a need to sharpen up. I am keen therefore to recover that which has been lost. I don’t mean that I can go back to how it was. No more mountain climbing – possibly? I have let go of what was and have to go forward into the new things and ways and recovery is a process of discovering what these are. One thing is for sure. They will not be handed to me on a plate. That means taking action. No matter how seemingly small and insignificant, any action can be powerful. I am discovering over and over, what can be achieved with God’s help and strength, with very little physical effort upon my part. Something I needed to learn long ago!
I still have to be kind to myself, but things such as falling asleep in front of the TV of an evening or eating just too much, must stop. Any lazy habits that have been picked up must change. Just as muscles that have atrophied must be carefully and slowly brought back to life – and that can be painful – so the mind needs to be exercised and sharpened.
I looked up the dictionary meaning of comfort: “The act of consoling: giving relief in affliction:receiving moral or emotional strength: to make physically comfortable: a state of ease and satisfaction of bodily wants, with freedom from pain and anxiety:” I have also discovered that there is no real comfort that can rival that which comes from God. Any other comfort addictions such as sex, drink, chocolate, food, warmth, sleep, television or any other distraction are just a pale shadow of the real thing.
So, forward with changed attitude, sometimes with difficulty, but with God all things are possible!
3 Comments
May 24, 2008 at 9:10 am
Did you say that you are in RECOVERY??? Aside from it being by our Heavenly Father’s hand, of course: was there any medical treatment involved??? CFS (I think) first sit me in 1993; and I feel worse than ever before.
May 27, 2008 at 9:05 am
When I say that I am in recovery I can honestly say that currently I am massively improved compared with the time I was first diagnosed. I admit I also make the statement with a certain amount of faith! I have had no medical treatment or intervention and have had no medication or prescribed drugs. I believe it has been God’s healing work – with my cooperation of course.
The purpose of the post was to remind myself however, that I must not be complacent or lethargic. The journey, the battle continues, there is more much more to come and I must not slip back into old ways.
May 29, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Amen! With God all things are possible! Loved your truthfulness! God bless and stay strong in the Lord!