{"id":1957,"date":"2016-02-06T17:20:22","date_gmt":"2016-02-06T17:20:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/?p=1957"},"modified":"2016-02-03T17:33:27","modified_gmt":"2016-02-03T17:33:27","slug":"chronic-illness-how-we-give","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/2016\/02\/chronic-illness-how-we-give.html","title":{"rendered":"Chronic Illness: How We Give"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Second<\/a>When you have a chronic illness, and associated expenses and unexpected health upsets, it can be hard to figure out how to give to those who are less fortunate (and, yes, although it might be hard to imagine, there are many people who are less fortunate than even the sickest among us!). There might not be enough money in the household budget for meds, copays, and other expenses, and it might be impossible to give time and effort on an ongoing, consistent, regular basis, especially in our church communities. Yet, the pressure is there. And sometimes, I have heard of sad stories of people who are chronically ill being challenged by others that “they can give a little more” or “if they really cared, they’d give more money\/time\/effort.” I’ve personally encountered negative comments when I respond, “No, I cannot donate blood,” to questions\/urgings to participate in blood donation drives, as if I’m making an excuse rather than being truly unable!<\/p>\n

Oh, my, where do I begin?…<\/p>\n

Each of us does, I believe, have certain gifts from God that are meant to be used. These include talents and treasure, time and effort. These gifts do not abandon us when we are diagnosed with a chronic illness, however how we use them (or are able to use them) might change drastically and seemingly with regularity as our health challenges wax, wane, and carry on.<\/p>\n

One of the things I’ve found most helpful with my particular situation is to wake each day commiting to doing one thing to help someone else. Whether that “thing” is as simple as to smile on someone who looks downcast or collect unused possessions and give them for charity, I’ve found there is always\u00a0something<\/em> I can give and that\u00a0nothing<\/em> we give is too small (much to the contrary of those who would insist otherwise).<\/p>\n

It is within each of us to discern whether we are avoiding the issue of giving and hiding behind our health conditions or truly intent on finding that “one thing” each day. It is within each of us, too, to figure out how to keep body\u00a0and<\/em> soul together, taking stock of our resources and using them wisely.<\/p>\n

Yes,\u00a0how<\/em> we give is a very personal thing. God knows our hearts. And if we encounter those who would criticize us, well, the one thing we can do? Pray for them, too.<\/p>\n

Peace,<\/p>\n

Maureen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When you have a chronic illness, and associated expenses and unexpected health upsets, it can be hard to figure out how to give to those who are less fortunate (and, yes, although it might be hard to imagine, there are many people who are less fortunate than even the sickest among us!). 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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. Through the blog, she hopes to bring issues of health, wellness, and spirit into focus and, especially, inspire others that, no matter what health challenges, illness, or hardships they endure, each person can find a good way to realize the wonderful potential God has placed within each heart and soul.","sameAs":["http:\/\/www.maureenpratt.com"],"url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/author\/mpratt"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1957","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/548"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1957"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1957\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1958,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1957\/revisions\/1958"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1957"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1957"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1957"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}