Hello Lori and everyone else who struggles with these issues in the context of affliction.

In 1981, I attended a two-day seminar taught by Joni Eareckson and Friends. Their Ministry was to equip the church how to minister to the handicapped/suffering/afflicted.

Joni became a quadriplegic after a diving accident as a teen. She is an author, singer and painter. She said three things that have stuck with me all these years. One is that people tend to distance themselves from the afflicted because they fear more will be required in that relationship. She said that being around afflicted people, reminds people of their own mortality. Thirdly, Joni said that 80% of people in the room were only TEMPORARILY well and healthy. There were an awful lot of people in that room!

So all of those things became true in my life. Almost every friend but a very, very faithful few, have distanced themselves from me because I became quite ill. It really hurts.

I'm the kind of friend who always used to put forth a lot of effort into initiating and cultivating relationships and makes sure that I put others before myself and keep a lot of laughter in the relationship :-). Now I have become so ill, and am in so much pain, I don't have the physical strength to put as much of myself into relationships anymore but make myself available when there is a need and there are a lot of them!

For many, many years I have had a lot of people come to me for counsel. I am an encourager and love to help. I am able to help people see they have options and to offer strategies, resources, comfort, validation, prayer, etc. Almost 100% of the people that come to me for counsel, do not have physical afflictions rather mental health issues and problems in life.

This blog is such a wonderful thing and I am very grateful for it! Thanks to all of you. My heart goes out to each and everyone of you! Many blessings, Sunnyflower