{"id":1769,"date":"2015-08-13T20:17:25","date_gmt":"2015-08-13T20:17:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/?p=1769"},"modified":"2015-08-02T20:26:42","modified_gmt":"2015-08-02T20:26:42","slug":"chronic-illness-health-first","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/2015\/08\/chronic-illness-health-first.html","title":{"rendered":"Chronic Illness: Health First"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Image<\/a>
Image courtesy of Marcus\/FreeDigitalPhotos.net<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Complete your outdoor tasks,<\/p>\n

and arrange your work in the field;<\/p>\n

afterward you can establish your house.<\/p>\n

Proverbs 24: 27<\/p>\n

\n

Very few of us probably work in a field these days. But there’s a resonance for us in the verses above as they relate to prioritizing our lives and, especially, in helping us understand the “pecking order” of important “to do’s” that we with chronic illness observe every day. And, when it comes to serious illness: taking care of health is vital.<\/p>\n

Without the most optimal health we possibly can have, we are ill-equipped (pardon the pun) to tackle all the other challenges we face, or even the pleasures that we try to include in our homes and hearts. For example, if we do not work with our doctors on our treatment regimens, we might not get the full benefit of what they offer and, thus, not have as much mobility, energy, or spark to take care of family, pets, and other things that bring us great joy.<\/p>\n

Without being as strong as we possibly can, we do not allow ourselves the optimal chance to meet unexpected challenges. I once asked a very exercise averse lupie what she would do if she were on a top floor of a building, but wasn’t strong enough to manage even one flight of stairs. She said, “I’d wait until the firemen came up and carried me down!”<\/p>\n

Oh, dear.<\/p>\n

Of course, there are some things we cannot do, or some capabilities that we do not have. \u00a0But the more we take care of the “business” of tending our “field” (life with illness), the more we will have resilience to take care of other things – and, yes, enjoy more of life!<\/p>\n

Peace,<\/p>\n

Maureen<\/p>\n

\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Complete your outdoor tasks, and arrange your work in the field; afterward you can establish your house. Proverbs 24: 27 Very few of us probably work in a field these days. But there’s a resonance for us in the verses above as they relate to prioritizing our lives and, especially, in helping us understand the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":548,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[360,43,4,383,379,1420],"tags":[29,44,1859,1858],"class_list":["post-1769","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-determination","category-encouragement-in-life","category-words-of-encouragemnent-and-info-for-all","category-heart-health","category-lupus-2","category-pain-2","tag-chronic-illness","tag-chronic-pain","tag-health-and-illness","tag-health-first"],"yoast_head":"\nChronic Illness: Health First - Good Days...Bad Days With Maureen Pratt<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/2015\/08\/chronic-illness-health-first.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Chronic Illness: Health First - Good Days...Bad Days With Maureen Pratt\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Complete your outdoor tasks, and arrange your work in the field; afterward you can establish your house. 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She expected to be writing scripts. God had other plans. A few years after her graduation, Maureen was diagnosed with a life-threatening case of organ-involved lupus. Her life turned upside down as she grappled with the effects of the illness and other health conditions that ensued. She was no stranger to serious health challenges; even as a child, Maureen had survived numerous bouts of pneumonia, flu, and other infections. But lupus made her take a fresh look at her life goals - and took herlifelong, strong Catholic Christian faith and writing in a direction she'd never imagined. Today, Maureen writes and speaks about walking with the Lord while living with chronic pain and illness. Her most recent book is \"Don't Panic!: How to Keep Going When the Going Gets Tough (Franciscan Media). She is also the author of, \"Peace in the Storm: Meditations on Chronic Pain & Illness\" (Image Books\/Randomhouse), \"Beyond Pain: Job, Jesus, and Joy\" (Twenty-Third Publications), \"The First Year: Hypothyroidism, Second Edition\" (Perseus) and \"Taking Charge of Lupus: How to Manage the Disease and Make the Most of Your LIfe.\" She writes the syndicated column, \"Living Well,\" for Catholic News Service, and has also written for Saint Anthony Messenger Magazine, Journey for Women Magazine, The Upper Room Magazine, LupusNow, and Arthritis Today. Maureen's health continues to be a challenge, however she feels honored to be able to bring her perspective, from experience and knowledge, to others. \"Good Days...Bad Days with Maureen Pratt\" is a new way for Maureen to reach people who carry the burden of illness and pain in their lives, or who care for someone who does. 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