Christians were told by Jesus that anyone who wanted to follow him must take up his cross and follow him. This does not mean looking for suffering, such as martyrdom, a practice that is strictly forbidden, but it means facing up to life's duties and troubles without compromising your Christian moral standards. Ill-health is a cross that we all must bear and do so according to moral standards.
Bearing the cross involves not slipping into selfishness. It is easy to slip into the mind set of thinking that your illness gives you some kind of priority on attention and precedence over others. It is important that you recognize that others have needs as well as you do and that while your needs are strong not every need or perceived need or desire of yours is priority. Bearing the cross means disciplining yourself to avoid self-pity, which is a spiritually deadening form of egocentricity. I discipline myself to look at others who are worse off than I am, and there are plenty of them.
I am trying to be a good Christian, and this is a demanding task. I think it important to count your blessings. I have a loving wife and family, good friends, a supportive community, a peaceful country to live in, a comfortable home, food and warmth, interesting things to do and enough money for my needs. Moreover, While the average age for developing the disease is 56, I showed the first symptoms in my late sixties, so the disease has not as much time to mature with me as it does with many others. When I asked the consultant how long before I reach stage 5, his reply was, "You are not going to live to 120, but you are good for another 10 to 15 years." Considering that I am 71 that will be sufficient.
Trying to blame others for your woes is a form of displacement. True, a young doctor misdiagnosed my problems as orthopaedic some years ago, but she put me through the Parkinson's checks, and I passed them. So she misinterpreted the main symptom, my gait, as an orthopaedic difficulty. I am uninterested in blaming her, the mistake was reasonable and failure to recognize early Parkinson's is a major source of misdiagnosis.
Responding in a spiritual way involves not giving in to the side-effects of the medication, which can make you more impulsive. The consultant warned of people who gamble small amounts suddenly gambling large sums. However, as I do not gamble at all this will not be a problem. But the warning is useful, for I will add prayers for self-control to my daily regime.
Comments
No chronic illnesses can be cured by drink. You are right in your analysis of the varying spellings of whiskey.
Re-reading this wizzley calls to mind your comment about drink cures and life-sweetening non-cures on Veronica's Balnamoon Skink wizzley.
What chronic illnesses can drink cure? I notice on the above-mentioned wizzley that you spell the drink whiskey and whisky. Internet information offers whiskey as the Irish and Unitedstatesian spelling and whiskey as the Canadian and Scottish.
Would that be an accurate differentiation? If so, which whiskey and whisky names would you suggest as illness cures and as illness non-cures that nevertheless are life-sweetening?
Trying to see my health issues in perspective was made easier by an email from a friend telling me that he is dying of cancer. At my ailment does not kill.
I did a short article on here a while ago.
https://wizzley.com/parkinson-s-disease/
The Parkinson s meds only actually work on Parkinson's. we were told if they don't work, then it is not Parkinson's. They replace the dopamine .
I know this, and I am aware that with me the disease will have less time to progress than it would have in younger folk. The average age for contracting it is 56-60, so I am fortunate. I can feel in myself that the medication is working.
You are " fortunate " to get this disease in your 70s . Our Prime minister Johnson's mother got it at 40, Actor Michael Fox in his 30s, my husband got it in his 50s .
Firstly I would be thankful for many years of health and fitness
Secondly, think on all the tips I gave you .
Thirdly KEEP AS PHYSICALLY ACTIVE AS POSSIBLE.
and always PRAY....
The professor who saw me said what you said, that new treatments are being developed, such as stem cells.
You and your sister and your respective families have my best prayers and wishes. Scientific breakthroughs such as nuclear fusion and pandemic vaccines occur despite COVID-related (and other) setbacks and suffering. Ten to 15 years seem like more than sufficient time for medical scientists early on to cure Parkinson's disease. Or so I would hope and pray.
First, you can participate in gardening by offering to speak at garden clubs, even those that would not be able to offer an honorarium for a lecture. Perhaps sharing with a book length manuscript would also be therapeutic.
Being active and keeping the mind otherwise engaged is a good therapy. Dwelling on an illness is meaningless when it is beyond the thought of actively planning and implementing care of oneself. You are a strong person of mind and faith, so you will do well.