“A bite? You wouldn’t want any… I have lupus.”
Oh how I love to see the look on people’s faces when I bust out the ‘ol “I have lupus”.
I’ve always been a bit of a jokester. Back in high school, I was in charge of the PA announcements so I followed in my brother’s footsteps and gave the ‘joke of the day’ at the end of the reminders (“Why did everyone want the mushroom at the party? Because he was a FUN-GI!”). And for Brooklyn’s gender reveal party, Zach and I found out the gender before everyone else and I couldn’t help myself. First, we cut a reveal cake that was just plain vanilla, then I assured everyone that I had a box filled with balloons (“and there really are balloons in it!”) only to surprise everyone with YELLOW balloons! Finally, we passed out silly string and everyone found out we were having a baby girl as the pink threads went flying everywhere, filling our house! (note to self - remove the rug first next time) Oh, and can't forget the time I cried laughing WHILE IN LABOUR. Seriously, nothing's gonna wipe that smile off my face.
Back when I was still in high school having a laugh with my boyfriend (snagged him up pretty quick).
Blue or pink cake? Blue or pink balloons? FINALLY the suspense is over with PINK silly string! We were so excited for our baby girl!
Crying laughing while in labour with my daughter, Brooklyn. It was a really funny post about babies who look like old people.
So naturally, only months after heart failure and a lupus diagnosis, there I was back at work (part-time on medical leave) joking with the other high school teachers in the science department so that I wouldn’t have to share my lunch treats.
(In all seriousness though, you can’t catch lupus from somebody else!)
I’m pretty into my bible and there’s one verse that stands out to me again and again (well, there are many actually) but today on my heart is Proverbs 31:25b:
“she laughs at the time to come”
I’ve always loved the relief that humour brings. It comes from a place of joy bubbling right out. But there are days full of trial and hardship that can turn into weeks and sometimes even months and it gets really hard to lighten up. Chronic illness is like being on a roller coaster, some seasons are up and others are down; all I can do is focus on how I respond to the changes I face.
So I’m going to choose to look at the future with joy and hope because my identity is not in my illness. My identity is in Christ.
I may take a lot of medicine, but laughter really is the best medicine for the soul.