Over the weekend, I was confined for severe pain arising from kidney stones. The pain was almost unbearable. I was writhing in pain at the hospital and no matter what position I was on the gurney at the ER, the pain remained. It was not something I would wish on my worst enemy.
Through the pain spasms though, I suddenly thought of my sister-in-law who passed away of breast cancer. On her last summer in this world, we had the privilege of being with her in the province. I personally had the chance to serve her in some way by taking turns caring for her every basic need during those weeks. And during the times she would suffer, we constantly talked to her about turning her suffering into use by offering it up for someone. That way, suffering did not end up useless but instead, gets transformed into a powerful tool for intercession.
Then my mind wandered to friends in the States. The wife was recently sent there on a work assignment by her company and was allowed to bring her whole family. Her husband had a stroke a few years back, paralyzing his entire left side. But over the years of therapy, he recovered enough to be mobile. A month into their arrival in the States, he again had a major stroke, this time paralyzing his right side. As of this posting, he is still in coma with no clear or positive signs of recovery. The wife, though devastated, has tried to cling to whatever faith and strength is within her.
So as I lay in the Emergency Room of the hospital, and as wave after wave of pain went through my body and groggy as I was from painkillers, I somehow managed to maintain one thought. I asked the Lord to use that pain to shower graces on my friends.
Looking at one’s suffering exclusively makes one wallow in self-pity. It is only when one sees it from the perspective of others’ sufferings that one’s own situation appears trivial or miniscule.
One more life lesson for me.
“Looking at one’s suffering exclusively makes one wallow in self-pity. It is only when one sees it from the perspective of others’ sufferings that one’s own situation appears trivial or miniscule.”
Very, very true. Well said.
Jane: Thanks for visiting! I bloghopped to your site and wow, ang ganda. I’ve bookmarked you already as a shopping reference!
Jane.. I hope you are okay now, dear!
When I am in physical pain, I close my eyes and try to think of the happy times in my life… and try to visualize happier times ahead.. It helps a lot in making me suffer less.
Jane: Great tip, Rhodora. Let me try that….
hello Jane. hugs to you. i hope you’re feeling better now. take care.
Jane: Feng, so nice to hear from my PMN mommies! I feel better though not yet 100% but taking it one day at a time…:-)
aww. I am sure it was painful. How are you feeling today? is the pain gone?
Jane: Hi Noemi. YEAAHHHH! Ang sakit talaga. The only thing close to this is childbirth, I think! Pain comes and goes but good news is that it is on lower part now of kidney. Hoping meds shrink it to a size that can pass out.
Like what I always tell my kids and what has guided me through times of despair, Look not to those above you but those below you. You will see that their life is harder than yours. If in their misery they can still find happiness, what more with you who has more in life.
Jane: As always Schumey, you are right. Our kids are overwhelmed by so much materialism around that we need to remind them every now and then not to look at who are better traveled, richer, smarter than them — but to those who are worse off.
i hope you are fine now, and that the stones would dissolve and find their way out before your next visit to the doctor. of course, we all want to do away with surgery, as much as possible.
when we look at other people, we sometimes realize just how blessed we are despite our suffering and the pain. and yes, we can be angels to others to alleviate their pains.
Jane: SexyMom, you make me feel all warm inside, like a mommy to all of us. Yes, am better despite intermittent pain but hopefully it means stones are on their way out. 🙂
Hi Jane..I’m wishing you’re ok. You’re right, we always make too much of our own sufferings until we wonder into someone else’s cup of misery. I admire you fior having the strength and the compassion to wish well for your friends despite the pain you were going through. I wish you well 🙂
Jane: Hi there kongkong! Thank you so much for well wishes. I am sure you would have done the same for your friends. 🙂
women have greater threshold of pain. so when you say painful, i imagine it’s double. hope you will be okay soon.
Jane: Hay naku badoodles. I do have a high tolerance for pain but this one is something else. Thanks for the wishes.
wow. youre in pain and you prayed for blessings for your loved ones. such big heart! big hugs from me 🙂
Jane: Cess, I am so blessed to have friends like you. Nice to get a hug. 🙂
Take care, Jane. I’m praying for you. 🙂
Jane: Julie, thank you! 🙂
I hope you’re feeling better now… God bless!
Jane: Linnor. am better but pain comes and goes. The location is lower down the urinary tract though so that appears to be a good sign.
Hi Jane. I’m sorry to hear that you got confined because of severe pain. I really hope that you are doing much better now. I hope that the pain will go away completely. Have a good rest. I’ll pray for you. Take care!
Jane: Rach, your consoling words make me feel better already. 🙂
Hi Jane! I’m sorry to hear about the pain. I know this kind of pain as i’ve had 2 kidney stones already. I took meds and did pass the stones out (which was painful too.). I hope the meds work for you and that you will be okay soon.
Jane: Wow, Chats. Talaga ha? Yes, even while the stones are moving out, it’s painful. Last night was a particularly extreme kind of pain. Could hardly breathe from the pain. For now, I rank it 2nd to giving birth. Aaagh!