Kari wrote a reflection on pregnancy, the first trimester (morning sickness) and how this experience has helped shape how she views those who suffer continually.
An excerpt:
“So this has made me sit and realize that so many people, because of physical suffering, never get to feel at their best. They have the desire to be energetic, hospitable, happy, joyful, helpful. But because of their suffering they are restricted, held back, handicapped if you will. I recently took a meal to a woman battling breast cancer. She lives in huge beautiful home. How hard it must be to be too weak to clean your beautiful home. To be the one receiving all the meals when you’re the one used to fixing them for others. How hard it must be to live in this state permanently. To battle an illness, perhaps knowing that you can never be your best self again. I’m beginning to understand how important that grieving process would be.”
“I’m such a newbie in this arena, I’m just asking God to help me to better understand those who truly suffer physically. I pray that no matter how we suffer, it would not eclipse our perspective of who God is. And for those alongside those who suffer, may we not offer pat answers, but truly love, truly care, and truly come alongside as a source of strength and hope…”
Read the whole thing …