Your Sick Literary Character is…
MaRy ingalls.
Oldest Ingalls daughter, Mary, contracted a virus that permanently blinded her at the age of 14. Younger sister, Laura Ingalls Wilder, recorded the events surrounding Mary's illness in By the Shores of Plum Creek.
The beauty of Mary's story is in the strength of her character. Mary lost her sight, but she didn't lose her joy. She endured the work of learning to read Braille, learning new ways to do chores at home, and learning to function independently with the loving support of her family.
Mary was a fighter. A survivor. Victorious.
What have you survived?
But Mary did more than just survive, she thrived, becoming a teacher and moving away from home. Mary leaned into the support of her family and her faith to give her strength to move forward in a new future. Her family and her faith gave her the courage to hold onto hope.
Mary kept her eyes "focused" on eternity, not on her present loss and struggle.
"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." - 2 Cor 4:17-18 (NIV)
Do you struggle to keep your focus on the sure hope of eternity? It's ok, friend. We all need a little help at times to keep looking up. Keep reading for help in that arena.
3 Things to Learn from Your Sick Literary Character
1. Include simple comforts in your healing environment.
There's no need to get fancy. Find your favorite mug, favorite, socks, favorite book, etc and place them within reach.
Don't underestimate the power of your senses. Place fresh flowers nearby to fill your nostrils with the scents of new life or use Essential Oils to fill your space with uplifting scents. Play familiar sounds that make you happy (classical music or soundscapes of birds chirping) to fill your ears with uplifting sounds. Choose a favorite lotion and a soft/fuzzy blanket to give your fingers something lovely to touch.
Finally, for "The Mary," routines are comforting. Set a reasonable schedule and try to stick to it, getting up at the same time each day, taking a short walk at the same time, and eating meals at the same time.
2. Perspective is everything.
Mary's loss of vision allowed her to "see" the world differently. That's not a bad thing. It helped her to see God's unique plan for her and how her illness could be used for good. She found a new way to be content in an unexpected life.
"I am at peace and even take pleasure in any weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and afflictions for the sake of the Anointed because when I am at my weakest, He makes me strong." 2 Cor 12:10 (The VOICE)
Your weakness can help you see your need for God's strength.
Your illness can also make you more aware of the little beauties you may have missed before. Take time each day to notice the blessings all around you. Keeping a gratitude journal has been a life-giving practice for many. Consider starting one today.
3. Being truly seen is a gift found in community.
When you are sick and have lost something you loved in your health, it can be a real comfort to connect with someone who has lived through a similar path of loss. Someone like that can see through the mask of "faking fine" and see the real you.
That's why I began the private Living Faithfully with Rare and Chronic Illness group. I'd love to see you there where you can meet others who are walking a similar path with Jesus. I invite you to join us... it's FREE so give it a try.
Who’s the book-loving, chronically ill girl behind all this? Let me introduce myself!
Hey, I’m Nicole O'Meara. I help Christian women living with chronic illness find hope and community.
I've been in your shoes, in fact, I still am.
I live with two rare diseases and one undiagnosed illness. My body is a scrapbook of scars that tell a story of God's faithfulness through hard trials. Through my journey with illness, I have learned that hope is never inappropriate.
Now I want to help you find that same hope!
Extra Resources to Help You Find Hope!
1. Follow me on Instagram. I post mini-devos of encouragement regularly as well as an occasional photo of my aussiedoodle. 🐶
2. Read this post from my blog. When your body has changed and you want nothing more than to understand WHY, be encouraged that behind the WHY is a God who never changes. This post will remind you God's unchanging character is our source of peace.
3. Join my FREE Facebook group: Living Faithfully with Rare & Chronic Illness. It's all about community. My FREE Facebook group is a for Christian women just like you. It's a hope-filled, faith-based community where we focus on what God is doing in us, not what our illness has taken from us. Come be known.