I'm back, folks. And I really missed blogging!
Why is this titled "Typhoid Mary..."? Let me explain. Typhoid Mary is one of the names I have often used for myself while addressing the Lord over the years. As in, "Lord, Typhoid Mary, here." Not so sure the Lord always appreciates my attempts at humor, but, there you have it. It was my "not so subtle" way of expressing my physical suffering to the Lord. I could never quite understand how one woman could be so sick all the time. During the years I had Myasthenia Gravis I would literally catch everything under the sun. Colds, flus, stomach bugs...you name it and I can likely assure you that I've had it. Obviously my immune system wasn't functioning properly at the time because since being healed of the Myasthenia Gravis I rarely get viruses.
A blessing for sure.
Enter in - Calamity Jane. No joke. This is my new nickname. Knee problems, back and neck trouble. Well, those I am managing to deal with pretty well. But Plantar Fasciitis? Talk about foot woes! Who invented such a wicked thing? If I wanted to walk around feeling as though there were sharp rocks in my shoes all of the time I would have placed some in there! "Lord, Calamity Jane here. Just WHAT is going on with my feet?! Ouch!"
Not one to miss an opportunity when it's placed right in front of me I started offering all these things up, of course. Never say that the Myasthenia Gravis didn't teach me well (lol)! I'm an old shoe (old hat?) at this. "Lord, I unite my feet with your suffering feet as you carried the Cross to Calvary. I offer this up so that souls who have walked away from you might turn toward you again." I like matching the suffering to the request. You know, like offering neck pain for the stiff-necked and back pain for those who are heavily burdened. It tickles my funny bone for some reason and I think it makes the Lord snicker. I could be wrong, though, so don't quote me on this ;)
And, yes, it has occurred to me that my neck is stiff because I am one of those stiff-necked people. Now, if you all would please excuse me while I hobble on down to the nearest confessional.
Glad to see you back, Mary. I will pray for your feet woes. Your patron,St Teresa of Avila had a few "humorous" words for Our Lord when He blessed her with calamity- so I would say you are definitely in good company. :)
ReplyDeleteI try to do the matching the suffering to the request as well.
Feel better soon!
I think the Lord has a wonderful sense of humor...after all, he must!:)
ReplyDeleteBut joking aside, I am sorry to hear you are suffering, it sounds terrible! I actually like your way of praying...I think it's very meaningful!
So nice to see you back here. Praying for some relief from your pain for you!
God bless Mary!
Good to see you posting : ) It's amazing how the Lord uniquely chooses each cross that specific soul will carry...what is most beneficial and purifying...and whew...do they get heavy sometimes!
ReplyDeleteKarin,
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to be back! Thanks for praying for my foot woes :) In all honesty, I feel wonderful! I just couldn't resist needling the Lord a tad ;) These little things are nothing compared to what the Lord lifted from me and I will always be grateful!
Colleen,
ReplyDeleteI agree! Life is pretty funny and we weren't given the gift of laughter for nothing!
Thank you - prayer is always appreciated :) God bless you too, Colleen!
Theresa,
ReplyDeleteThank you :) As far as the purification thing - it's good to know the Lord is not slacking in this area (lol) and has my soul well in hand!
Mary, I cannot tell you how much I have missed you! You are truly truly an encouragement. I am so glad that you posted again. Yes, the Lord better have a sense of humor. Blessings.
ReplyDeleteHi JBR! Thanks for your comment :) If He doesn't have a good sense of humor I'm in big trouble!
ReplyDeleteOh, Mary...I am so glad to see you back!! I have missed you and thanks for stopping by my place. As for your humor, I feel certain the Lord has a sense of humor!! Blessings to you...Mary
ReplyDeleteHi Mary! The break did me good but I'm glad to be back (foot woes and all)! Thanks for visiting!
ReplyDeleteMary! Nice to see you back.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Esther! The break gave me a good opportunity to focus on my prayer life a bit more. Blogging can be very time consuming when one types with one finger ;)
ReplyDeleteMary, glad you are back!! I can relate to your plantar fasciitis. It's awful, have been dealing with it for the past year along with other aches and pains that I can't tell if they are coming from not being able to walk well or what. I started offering it up too, and yes, you are right it is nothing compared to what our Lord has given for us.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back Mary and I hope you are feeling much better. I am sure the Lord loves your sense of humor.....:-)Hugs
ReplyDeleteGlad to see you're back in Blogland Mary. Welcome.
ReplyDeleteI am praying that you are soon well.
May He bless you and your family always.
Thanks Mom! You too, huh? Mine started this past summer and I haven't been able to get rid of it since. You make a good point about the other aches and pains. Maybe my knee and back problems are stemming from not being able to walk well. Not that I've ever really walked that well but it was getting better until the P.F. came along;) I'll pray for you! I can sooo relate!
ReplyDeleteHi Colleen! Yeah, I figured I'd better get back before you disowned me as a friend (lol)! I'm glad yours went away! That's the last thing a person needs when they are dealing with RA. My brother-in-law had his foot injected twice. It came back after the first one but the second one did the trick. I do the foot stretches and ice my feet. How I managed to get it in both feet at once I'll never know! I also have been using Arnica gel on them. Sometimes it takes a long time to go away I've heard.
ReplyDeleteI missed you too, Colleen :)
Thank you, Bernie :) I hope you are doing well! I noticed that you are taking a break from blogging too. Not permanently I hope? Everyone would miss you dearly if you did! Hugs to you too, Bernie!
ReplyDeleteThanks Victor! Prayers are always welcomed and much appreciated! I'm very glad that you are blogging again too. God bless you, my friend :)
ReplyDeleteMary, I am so glad to see you back! I have missed your wonderful posts. So sorry to hear of your plantar fascitis. It may well be that your back and neck pains are from not being able to walk correctly. When I got my hips replaced my back pain vanished. Now I just have constant fibro pain :)
ReplyDeleteYour comment about the rocks in the shoes reminded me of the Spanish saint, I can't remember her name - during the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s. She put rocks in her shoes for penance and wore them all the time. The government wouldn't permit priests to visit homes when someone was dying so she went and prayed with the dying and their families. If somebody knows her name, let me know. I read her biography but gave the book away.
Hi Barb! I'm glad to be back! No, I've never heard of the saint who put rocks in her shoes :) I'm curious about her though. If you do find out who she is can you let me know? I love learning about saints that I never heard of before. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteMy prayers are with you, Barb. I know how difficult chronic pain is to deal with. May our Lord encompass you in his peace always.
Oh how wonderful it is to read your writings again. I greatly admire people like you and Colleen...who live SO graciously with chronic pain...this amazes me...SO OFTEN, when the slightest physical ailment nags at me...I think of you beautiful women who use these crosses as a means of healing and holiness in life...and I stand in awe of you. Thank you for sharing your heart with us.
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