Ms. Leah wrote this powerful post and I agree it must be different. The Church should be a place of healing and wholeness, not condemnation and judgement. Depression, PTSD, and other mental illness are apart of the disease Christ bore on the cross!!! Blessings to you all.
I will never understand why every organ in your body gets support and sympathy when it is ill, except for your brain.
–Unknown
It’s hard having to deal with a mental illness. It can really become a burden sometimes.
As a bipolar sufferer I must deal with the rollercoaster of emotions quite frequently. I can be in the best mood one second and be crying the next. However, as of lately I’ve been pretty stable due to the increase of one medication and being put on a new medication. It seems like it’s a good balance. Recently, I was on the verge of a manic episode and I could feel it. So that’s why my doctor added a new medication to my “cocktail.”
I came across some quotes about mental illness that I’d like to share.
It’s called a mental illness for a reason….because…
Everything has a process. Plants grow from a tiny seed. Babies are born and become old enough to take their first steps. In the book of Ecclesiastes chapter three it speaks of the times. I like to see them as seasons of process.
I am in a process right now. I call it the process of transformation. The Holy Bible says that in Christ we become new. Our old life is over. (2 Corinthians 5:17). Sometimes our past likes to linger though. Thus the need for the transformation process. There we unlearn the old way of thinking, speaking and living. We build our faith and confidence in God and ourselves. We gain victory over things that before weighed us down. In this process we learn to truly walk by faith.
Are you in this process right now? If so congratulations the pain and struggle will produce a masterpiece in the end! You will be stronger, wiser, healthier, more bold than ever before. Know that you are not alone. Just like the three Hebrew boys, God is with you in the fire. You and I will finish strong.
Unique world events offer a unique opportunity to learn new lessons. Here are a few we have had an opportunity to learn recently.
1. It’s a small world. The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically demonstrated how interconnected the modern world is. A virus from a remote part of China has reached almost every other country in the world through multiple diverse routes. We can no longer pretend that what happens in one place does not matter to those of us in another place. As John Donne observed over three centuries ago, “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main…Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bells tolls; it tolls for thee.”
2. It is a rich world we live in. Consider the closures and cancellations…
Morning to you guys and gents!
I am in Illinois and today a “Stay in Place” order will take effect at 12pm.
I am like “Wow!” The Littles and I just took long stroll around the neighborhood.
Saying prayers and singing songs as we went. I feel like this mandate could be looked at as prophetic in a way. It’s called Stay in Place, just look at that. If you have been faithful stay in that place. If you have been worshiping stay in that place. If you have been reaching goals stay in that place.
See this time as a time to rest, reflect, and renew. After this you will be stronger, wiser even. Nothing is in vain, He is still on the throne.
It means that you were dead and now you are alive!
New life can consist of many things.
Examples are
A change in environment
A change in mindset
Creating a self-care routine
Letting go of negative thoughts
Also, seeing yourself in a healthy way. Opening up your mind to seeing the good in little things is a great way to start. Be encouraged change is good!
Michael Jackson had a controversial song out entitled “Black or White”. It was not considered controversial for the lyrics but for the ending of his video. He was walking through and singing about issues of race during the bridge of the song and he busted windows in an abandoned vehicle. Then transformed into a black panther and walked away from the scene.
As a person of color I was a true MJ fan. I new all his songs but sadly it was not until I grew up that I understood his hidden messages of love, compassion and equality within many of his chart topping songs. You might ask yourself why is this important to me? The reason being our Earth is still hurting in 2020, due to hate and fear.
Racism and discrimination is still very alive despite the Civil War, and Civil Rights movement in the 60’s. “Lovecan only drive out Hate”. The very wise Martin L. King Jr. said this. With his birthday and holiday fast approaching let us remember to share a smile with someone new and treat others how we want to be treated.
Let them talk about you and how you’re not “good enough” to talk about God and all He‘s done in your life because of the mistakes you’ve made. Let them talk about how you’re just trying to impress and trying to get attention. Let them talk about how they believe you’re not even pretty or that you’re trying too hard. Girl, let them talk.
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Girl, let them stare.
Let them stare because they notice that you dress differently. And act differently. And live differently. Let them stare as your feet walk a different direction from the crowd. Girl, let them stare.
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Girl, let them exclude you.
Let them move when you walk to the table. Let them not invite you to the party. Let them not include you in the group chat. Girl, let them exclude you.
