when you feel like you’re the only one …

Do you ever feel like you’re the only one?

Yesterday I went to church then came home and went to bed. My body aching because of the recent weather changes. All the lovely August rain made my body flare in pain.

I have auto-immune disorder that causes my nerves to over-react. When I have an episode, it’s kind of like a full body migraine. To settle things I have to take a warm bath then wrap up in a soft blanket and hope for a quiet house.

After a couple hours of rest and RX, I usually feel a little better. That’s what happened yesterday. And so I got dressed to go to a dear friend’s surprise party all the while feeling I was the only one that struggled with stuff like that. The only one with issues and problems. The only one who has to change plans, cancel things and take time-outs because my auto-immune thing bosses me around.

When Will and I arrived at the party, everyone was standing and talking. I knew I needed to sit down and settle down to avoid another flare up.

I looked around feeling the only one … and then I saw Joni. She was sitting down at a table with her husband. They were the only ones sitting down. I smiled and walked to the table. I sat down.

Joni and I started talking. About the weather, about flare-ups and pain … about our bodies and how they sometimes seem to take charge and boss us around. Joni has an auto-immune thing too.

I don’t know what you’re going through. Maybe you have something like Joni and me. Or maybe you’re experiencing relationship stuff or money problems … there are all kinds of things that make people feel lonely. But I do know this: You’re not the only one.

Praying you find your Joni today in the middle of your struggle. That you sit down at the table with her and remember you’re not alone. And you’re not the only one.

xoxo.