MS to Mold




	WRITE 2 THE HEART Stories that are aimed "Write 2 the Heart" March 20, 2003 Cheryl Speir, Editor, moderator@write2theheart.com ----------------------------------------------------------- Welcome to your latest issue of "Write 2 the Heart" You are receiving this newsletter because you requested a subscription or a friend generously forwarded their copy to you. To subscribe send a blank e-mail to subscribe@write2theheart.com. ----------------------------------------------------------- We never want to think of a serious illness as the mold that shapes our lives. It happened to Betty, yet she can still give thanks to her Lord. ------------------------------------------------------------ He Used MS to Mold Me By Betty King ------------------------------------------------------------ If someone in my family had to have an incurable disease, I'm glad it was I. It has rearranged my priorities, rerouted my highways, and straightened my paths. I use to be a typical young woman, dead set on being skinny, blond and beautiful; well, as near to that scenario as possible. I loved clothes and shoes with purses to match. I loved being the wife of a successful business and city councilman. I enjoyed being the mother of kids who were active and star sportsmen and cheerleaders. I liked being the talented daughter of my parents and having my vocal chords requested. I was fond of being in demand to serve on committees, though being the big cheese was never my desire. Big immaculate houses were high on my list and nice comfortable cars seemed a necessity. Go, go, go was my middle name. I took up golf and bowling for myself under the pretense it would help keep me in shape. And travel - I loved to travel! Just let someone say go and I was packed and ready. I'd go anytime anywhere and everywhere; all my husband had to say was, Let's go" and I was on a plane, in the car or on a ship. I loved the Lord He was a big part of my life. I had been raised in a Christian home and had given my heart to God. I was raising my children in the church and teaching them right from wrong. The lord had always been there for me and I had tried to be there for Him, but I failed more times than I care to recall. MS came to call on me one day, and my body not knowing its intent, invited him in. I call it him, though I often refer to it as a sneaky snake. It strikes out and you never know what part of your body it will attack. It is much like the devil and his forces of evil that are out to devour, catching you unaware of his presence or intent. It started by numbing my spine and fingertips and had both me and the doctors baffled. I grew use to the lack of normal sensations and learned to live with it; much like sin we entertain. My eyes soon fell to the serpent's havoc. I was hospitalized and given the diagnoses of Multiple Sclerosis. Slowly my life began to change, both in ways large and small. I started having more conversations with the One who was always available. I began to ask Him for favors; "Please keep me on my feet Lord." The Bible started becoming a book of instructions instead of something I occasionally read. As my faith was deepening and my priorities changing, my body was succumbing to the varmint that had seized me. But as MS was grabbing my central nervous system, I was reaching out to God; I can't do this without you I informed Him, as if He didn't know. I had to start using a cane and my pride was tackled. Then I began to use a wheel chair when shopping, then traveling to exotic places no longer seem so important. Two canes became a necessity, and high heels were out of the question; vanity went out the window. Because of medicines and my eventual graduation to a three wheel motorized scooter full time, I'm twice the size I use to be. I no longer fret over wanting to be skinny; I'm just thankful there are medicines to help somewhat with my physical burdens. The time came when I willing gave up a large home; my house keeping abilities have near vanished. There are so many things I see more clearly now. Businesses can fail, children grow up; talents unused fade away. Fancy cars do not accommodate motorized scooters. Politicians can be voted out of office. Husbands who are friends as well as true lovers stick around for the duration. When God closes a door He opens a window; my vocal cords went unused and lost their talent, but He gave me back my vision and the desire to write. I've always been thankful to God for keeping me on my feet till my children were raised. I am thankful for Him opening my eyes to see more clearly new paths I should tread. I have never blamed Him for my problems; only asked Him to open my eyes to the Blessings that surround me. I still breathe one desperate prayer, "Lord please help me not to become any more of a burden, than I already am." But if it ever should happen, I'm sure there will be a purpose and a heavenly lesson to learn. Yes, I've always said if anyone in my family had to have MS, I was sure glad it was I. "I don't think anyone else could have been strong enough; they would have taken to their beds long ago." That used to be my reasoning. But now, as I ponder upon the most likely reason; it is that there was someone who needed their priorities rearranged, their highways rerouted and their pathways straightened out, and - it was I. Yes, I am thankful For MS; oh I detest it's imposition in my life, but it has truly been a blessing in disguise. Though God did not cause my MS, He used it as the clay to mold me into becoming more of the person He knew I could be. Copyright, 2003, Betty King baking2 @ charter.net You are encouraged to write to the authors to let them know what you think of their story, just remember to remove the space before and after the @ symbol. The space is placed in the address to protect our writers from viruses and email harvesting programs. Have a comment on today's story? Send it to: moderator@write2theheart.com ---------------------------------------------------------------- Betty King has lived with MS over thirty-six years. Her publisher just released her book, It Takes Two Mountains to Make a Valley; you can find out more about her and her book at her website www.betty.newsmoose.com Betty is a Heartwarmer Gem and writer of the month at 2theheart.com she can be reached at baking2 @ charter.net -------------------------------------------------------------- Some of you might like to see and hear the interview that http://www.goodnewsbroadcast.com/index.htmldid with Betty sometime back. This is where you go tosee her book and hear the interview: http://www.goodnewsbroadcast.com/relationships.html Scroll down the page and click on real Audio under the picture of her book. -------------------------------------------------------------- Letters From Our Readers -------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Bob, Wow! that was a great historical story. I enjoyed every word. I thought Storyteller had great courage and stamina and certainly deserved the home and children she eventually found. The story is doubly moving because the brave Indian girl is an ancestor of yours. Good writing! More! More! Blessings, meg Mary-Ellen Grisham "meg" meginrose @ empowering.com (About Tatertot) I love it!! LOL! I did have a poodle years ago. AND, one time they really groomed him...I mean he looked too pretty! I laughed and he went under the bed. They are so sensitive. I think the pom-pom is darling!! LOL Love, Diane --------------------------------------------------------------- Military Prayer Reminder --------------------------------------------------------------- As you read over this list of names, please take that moment to pray for these young people and their families: Chris Speir Tim Speir Alan Thaddeaus Todd Holland Howard Jessie Graham William Don't forget to continue to pray for our nation and our military at this time! If you have loved ones in the military, or who are being called to go overseas, send their names (first and last or first only) to be included in our prayer reminder. --------------------------------------------------------------- Chocolate Alert! I know that got your attention! I am working on a chocolate cookbook to be given away on Write 2 the Heart's web site. This work in process is tentatively called "Write 2 the Heart of the Chocolate Lover" Anyone who would like to join in the delicious fun, send a chocolate recipe with a brief bio to be included after each recipe. Send as many as you wish. --------------------------------------------------------------- Cheryl's Corner So far, I have been in touch with three of the "boy's" from the Masonic Home, Jimmy, Ronnie, and Rodney. Night before last, I got in touch with the first "girl", Tanya. This is very special to me. I can remember packing to leave when Tanya came to my room to give me her pair of flannel-footed pajamas to remember her by. I kept them all these years because of the sweet gentle girl who gave them to me. She lives only an hour and a half from me, so I just might have to meet her for lunch one day. Poor Tatertot! He is enjoying his new do, loves to go sit in the sunshine with it and have people rub it. He prances around like he looks wonderful, but he sure looks like a sheep sheering gone bad. God Bless, Cheryl ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- © 2003 Write 2 the Heart Nothing may be reproduced or published without the written permission of the individual author or copyright owner. All rights belong to the authors.