This phrase is used pretty frequently in my house: "We'll take care of you, but we won't feel sorry for you!"  Sounds harsh right?  It may sound a bit harsh at first, but when you live in a house with only chronically ill people, you learn really fast that if you waste time feeling sorry for each other you never get ANYTHING accomplished in a day!

We all know the reaction of "I'm so sorry!" that chronically ill people commonly receive from others.  I always feel minorly guilty when someone tells me how sorry they are that I suffer from chronic illness, mainly because I'm not sorry.  I won't downplay how difficult chronic illness can be.  I won't downplay the trauma, the dark nights, and the excruciating pain... but through it all, I've found that I just don't have the time to be sorry about it.  I talk about my illnesses the same way that any other person my age would talk about college or career because it is such a big part of my life.  I mention it casually in conversation because hiding it can be exhausting, and I talk about it all the time because raising awareness for such realities is SO IMPORTANT because I believe in hope for the chronically ill.

With that said, chronic illness is a PART of me.  That does not mean that it defines me or makes me any less of a person or any less capable. I may have certain disabilities that can make life a little harder.  I may fight every day.  I may face darkness that others don't have to, but I do all of these things unapologetically because self-pity will ultimately get me nowhere.

So when someone opens up to you about their illness or deep dark sufferings, tell them you LOVE them.  Tell them you BELIEVE them. Tell them you are HERE for them and you're NOT LEAVING.  "I'm sorry" often silences conversation in this context.  Say you're sorry when you've wronged someone.  Don't say you're sorry because you don't know what else to say.  Illness is for sure a tragedy.  But every single one of us is currently learning to transform tragedy into beauty, and pain into healing.  We are all simply looking for people that are wiling to help us along in this journey.

Comment below if you can relate and what you'd prefer people say to you when you open up about your illness!

Who feels like happiness and enjoyment that come your way are often accompanied with guilt because you're chronically ill??

I know I struggle with this REGULARLY, and so I'm here to tell you that you DO NOT have to feel guilty or ashamed during the rare moments of joy that bless your life when you're chronically ill. Lyme disease is an INVISIBLE illness, as are many chronic illnesses and disorders. We may not "look sick" 24/7, but you do not have to prove anything to anyone. What is "sick" supposed to look like anyway? I'll tell you that some days it's ugly, but some days life is good and those are the days that I must embrace in this journey. Pain and suffering do not have to be validated or believed by others in order for it to be very real, and very scary. And despite all of the pain and agony that I've faced in life, I've found that there is an awful lot of beauty and joy to be found as well; (it just may take a little longer to find than it does for the some).

So the next time you're having a moment of joy, gratitude, laughter, love, or happiness, EMBRACE IT! Don't let guilt rob you of what you are worthy of, which is immense love and happiness. Yeah, we're sick and in pain (sometimes more often than not), but chronically ill people also have a way of lighting up any room that they happen to be in.

Suffering is inevitable in life. You cannot avoid it, for it is often what shapes and transforms us into gold. But despite it all, God wants us to be happy. And through Him, we can find that happiness even in the midst of suffering.

Comment below if you can relate and tell me about your life's happy!​