New Group

My life was going along great. I had a full-time career teaching that I loved, plus two part-time ones that involved teaching music and leading worship at church. My kids were well and my husband was doing what he loved. We were all extremely busy and fulfilled. But, I began to feel sick - fatigue and pain that cannot be described. I had felt it a few times in the past when for months I could not get out of bed without help.

No doctor could ever figure it out. Starting in eighth grade, I'd be given round after round of antibiotics and after being deathly ill for weeks, would slowly recover. It would always take a long, long time to feel my energetic, enthusiastic self again but I always would. Then, for years I could go on as if nothing had ever happened to me. This time, I reacted the same way by pushing myself more and more, hoping I could just "will" myself out of it. But, the last time it didn't work and after feeling "sick" for a year, I finally had a stroke.

Since then, I've been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis. All three of these ailments bring along a host of bad symptoms and daily problems. Much of the treatment I get now and my many medications work well but my life has never been the same. There are times I know I would not have made it if other people had not been praying for me.

Many people endure pain quietly everyday because people can't see how they feel. Unless you or a family member deals with an illness that causes pain, you truly can't understand. There are a host of illnesses that make their bearer sincerely suffer.

I am offering a support group called "Christians in Chronic Pain" to anyone who suffers in physical pain that would like people praying for you. We will pray for you, love you, and let you talk about it. And we will understand. It will be offered in various homes. For more information, call 863-385-7871.

Sandy Lankford
Sebring