Feelings

This is not the first time I've decided to write about feelings. After all, we do all have them. At least I think we do. I guess there are those out there who are so stone cold to everything that they don't know how to crack a smile, shed a tear, or have a good laugh.

The last time I wrote on feelings, it was simply titled "Compassion". What is that? Here's the definition of compassion: Compassion is a virtue — one in which the emotional capacities of empathy and sympathy (for the suffering of others) are regarded as a part of love itself, and a cornerstone of greater social interconnection and humanism — foundational to the highest principles in philosophy, society, and personhood.

I'll give you a few seconds to ponder and chew on that one. Go back and read it over again if you need to.

Most who know me, know I have a very tender heart. It doesn't take much to make me teary eyed. And it doesn't always have to be something sad. I have shed many tears that were happy tears. Is that a problem that I have a soft heart? It shouldn't be. I'm not blind, I've seen the look on some people's faces when I start getting teary eyed about something. Its a look of "Oh good grief, here she goes again!!!" Well, to that I say...."WHATEVER!" That's just who I am. Its the way that the Lord made me and wired me to be. It simply means that he gave me a compassionate heart.

I don't have to know someone to show compassion for them. I don't have to KNOW what they are dealing with. It does help to know though, so that I know what how to lift them up in prayer. I myself have been known to have a conversation with people and I can see the tears well up in their eyes. And then of course, here come the water works for myself. But that's what we are to do. Listen, have compassion, and love one another.

New International Version (NIV)Luke 6:31
31 Do to others as you would have them do to you

.Is that really so hard to do? Believe me, its NOT hard. I've had people in the past that I have had words with, and just not gotten along with them. I prayed and asked the Lord to help me with that. I have gone to that person, apologized for the bad attitude and asked for forgiveness. Was that hard? Uh, YA..its called letting go of pride and letting your guard down. But it goes along with Luke 6:31..b/c you treat others the way you want to be treated. I've heard people quote that, and they certainly don't practice it.

The whole point in me writing about this again, is because of the fact that as I have already said, I have a very tender heart. And when I hear of someone losing their battle, with the same disease that my son fights every single day, the compassion doesnt just go away. Instead it explodes.

Since June of 2000, I have met several families, who are also the parents of kids with diabetes. They are the ONLY ones who REALLY understand what its like to have a child with diabetes. The doctors don't understand--they say they do, but really? Do THEY really? Unless you live with it in your home, its really hard to know just what its like. I'm very thankful to have these people in my life--its not an accident. God places people in our lives for a reason.

Every minute across the world, 6 people die of diabetes… Either directly, or indirectly as the result of a complication. In total this disease is therefore the cause of almost 4 million deaths per year! Which is as many as those caused by AIDS. These are the figures put forward by the World Health Organization and the International Diabetes Federation (the IDF). It’s a genuine massacre which shows no sign of stopping http://www.destinationsante.com/

In the last 24 hours, there is a family who is hurting, and grieving for the loss of their loved one. Parents have lost a son, a sister has lost her brother, kids have lost their daddy and friends have lost a friend. That my friends, is sad. Although at the same time, we can take comfort that he is resting in the arms of Jesus and that he has a new body that is whole and he is no longer in any pain.

I have been talking to this young man's mom for a few weeks now, thanks to Face Book, I was able to find her and get in touch with her. I'd been wanting to get in touch with her for some time and wasn't sure how to. I found her on FB and was thrilled. I do not think it was an accident that I was able to find her on facebook. You see, this mom is a mom just like myself--she has fought the same fight that I fight every day, the same fight that I have fought every day since June of 2000. She knows how I feel. She knows the hurt that I feel and the anxiety that I have as I watch my kid grow up with something that I can't take away from him. I can't fix it for him. What I can do is be there for him, pray for him that he will just accept his health. I was given this child, to take care of, for such a time as this. The Lord KNEW before He gave me my son, just what road lied ahead of us. He knew. He's not going to give us anything more than He thinks we can handle. IT takes a special person to be the parent of a child with diabetes. Its a tough job, and obviously the Lord thought I could do the job. :)

Am I trying to take the sadness and heartache and turn it around on myself and my own family? Absolutely NOT. The whole reason for me to even write this is because of the fact that my heart truly ACHES for them. When I first heard he was so seriously ill and in the hospital, my heart just hurt for them. He had a stroke that was the result of Juvenile Diabetes. Just a few weeks ago, I learned of another young lady, who is the same age as my son, who went to bed one night, seemed fine, and never woke up the next morning. I learned yesterday of THREE other people just this past week, who have passed away, due to complications from diabetes.

A parent should never have to bury their child. I've heard that said several times since I was a kid growing up. We know that this world is not our home. Our life here on earth will not last forever, and that is the way that the good Lord intended things to be.

While you might think this was just a lot of jibber jabber, to me it was not. Its simply stating how I feel about things. And I as I was telling someone else earlier today, I am not going to apologize for my feelings when it comes to my son, or anyone else. As I have said, I have a soft tender heart, its a virtue that the Lord has given to me.

While chatting with another friend last night she shared this with me: I have another friend whose child has diabetes. I have seen what they have gone through and my heart bleeds for them. Their daughter has to have an insiline pack on her belly all the time and inject it at different intervels during the day. She has been in the hospital and almost lost her. I can't imagine the fear they must feel in what could happen. But that is what friends are for... to cry with us and to feel our pain. We need each other. And when we have compassion for one another that is when we are most lilke Jesus.