Beckie Butcher's Blog: beckiesworld.com, page 4

Greetings!

Hello again, everybody!
I hope you are well and had a great week and a Happy Valentines’ Day a day late.
Well, I made it through another week. I did have another, “down” day this past weekend. I was not in the best of moods until I remembered what I had read in a devotional a couple weeks ago. The author told how no matter what the problem in our lives, God is bigger than it is. God is bigger than our sorrows; God is bigger than our fears. God is bigger than our worries, our trials, and our tribulations. It also told of how, no matter what our distractions are, we need to step back, take a deep breath, and turn our thoughts upward to God.

We need to keep our eyes on the ball here; this means we need to remember what Jesus went through in His life. He never forgot where He was going in the end. He endured shame, pain, and the cross, and, at the end of the day, He wound up seated at the right hand of the Father. God will get us through the pain and struggles of CFS/FM, and, we too, will wind up with the Father in that beautiful place called Heaven. We will be at peace once again and in perfect bodies. There will be no more CFS pain and tears of frustration and anger. There will be no more pain or tears in Heaven. Yes, it is hard and painful in this earthly life, and not everybody is good and kind to us, but the good news is, we wake up the next day and we survive! There are those who love us and value us even though we are greatly restricted in what we can do. What matters to them is we are here for them to talk to and love. Having the energy to run the Boston Marathon is not what is necessary for this life. To those who truly love us and value us, all we need is to be ourselves and to live our lives the best we can, and they will understand. We still have value, it’s just a different kind of value. We still have the capacity to make those we love smile and laugh; we have the capacity to love, and that is of great importance to other human beings. The truth is, when we lose it, we miss it, and those who love you will miss it when you are gone. You are still needed; don’t think you are not.

Well, those are my thoughts today.
Have a wonderful week, and I will, “see” you next week!
Beckie

battlecfs.wordpress.com
http://beckiebutcherwrites.com

youtube.com/watch?v=Y0aEcnleBOE

#cfs #cfsisreal #cfsawareness #cfswarrior #beckiebutcher
#beckiesbattle #beckieoffershope #chronicfatiguesyndrome #wordprompts

Hello Again!

Wow, another week already! Boy, it flew by fast! I’m hardly ready for this post, ha ha.

I was reading a devotional this morning, and it was all about how God prepares us for great service through humble means. The example was how David started out as a shepherd and became a king. Being a shepherd hardly seems preparatory for being king one day, yet his experiences served him well once he got to where God wanted him to be. Very interesting, since I have often wondered what the point of my life was and what good I was to anybody with this crazy disease. I almost ended it a couple of times because I was so depressed and felt I was no good to anybody. I was a burden to everyone; my seventy-three-year-old mother had to do my laundry, shop for groceries, take me to doctors’ appointments, and make my meals as well as help me out financially. This bothered me greatly as I felt she should have been enjoying her golden years instead of taking care of and worrying about a grown woman.

Then, a close friend of mine suggested I write a book, and that I did. Then, a couple years later, my publisher called me and wanted me to fly to Los Angeles to pitch it to television and film producers. Hmmm….could this be where God wants me to be? Then, I began writing this blog.

Ok, this makes sense; I started out down a rough road; I was sick, and I was poor. Well, actually, I still am, but that could change, and maybe, sooner than later. If it ever really comes to fruition, I will be where God wants me to be and what God wants me to be; I could be an advocate for the cause, and how wonderful would that be! What a legacy! I would be both proud and honored! Do I know for sure? No, I don’t. Maybe that is how Gods’ purpose will be worked out, maybe it won’t be, but where I wind up and wherever God leads me through this, count on one thing. It will be big, because it will be Gods’ Will, and with God, all things are possible.

I began this journey humbly. I suffered. I was poor. I was angry. These were my, “shepherd,” days. That changed at the end of last year. God revealed to me how blessed I truly am. I was reminded how, throughout this horrible journey, God brought many wonderful people into my life who were willing to help me, whether it be listening to me, praying for me, helping me physically, or helping me financially. I have been a “shepherd,” to my readers by sharing my thoughts, feelings, and experiences in hopes I could help at least one or two people. One day that will change, and, through God, I will be led to do even bigger and more wonderful things! My life seemed so insignificant for so long, but it was those little things, those “shepherd,” things which got me where I am today, and where I will be someday when I have been fully been prepared by God. There is nothing wrong with being a shepherd! You must be a shepherd to prepare for wonderful things! I am grateful for the experience!

Remember, if you are thinking your life doesn’t mean much because you are sick. it isn’t. Every little action or word has meaning, and you just might be changing someones’ life for the better simply by being on this planet.
Have a wonderful week, everybody.
Beckie

battlecfs.wordpress.com
http://beckiebutcherwrites.com

youtube.com/watch?v=Y0aEcnleBOE

#cfs #cfsisreal #cfsawareness #cfswarrior #beckiebutcher
#beckiesbattle #beckieoffershope #chronicfatiguesyndrome #wordprompts

Happy February 1st….Almost.

Well, hello again, everybody!
I do hope you have all been well. I have.

You know, it is so liberating when you decide to relax and let things work themselves out because they usually do just that. As you know, money has been an object as well as a roadblock in my journey. I was always so uptight and so tense, which, believe me, did not help the situation any. When you are worried, you are tense. When you are tense, you tighten up. When you tighten up, it stresses your muscles, and when your muscles are stressed, it causes pain, which, in turn, causes fatigue. The best thing I ever did was decide to begin trigger point injections. Not only do they relax me immensely, but God brought me to a nurse practitioner who suggested I get a neck massager. That relaxes me immensely also. It doesn’t just relieve tension and stiffness in my neck, I feel it everywhere. I feel more functional, plus my disposition is much better without all that pain. Letting go and letting God handle things was the best thing I could have done. Peace came to me when I made that decision. Finances can be worked out later.

Another thing I was thinking earlier was this; had this not happened to me, I would have never experienced the kindness and the blessings of the people I know and have known for many years. CFS has also brought many new people who have blessed me with kindness as well. Some of these people were people I didn’t even know very well, but they decided to show me kindness because that is just who they are; they are Gods’ people. They are living their lives just as God instructs them to do by showing love and compassion to everyone they meet. They are the feet and hands of Christ. They are merciful and loving without rules or judgment. It was through my weakness God has worked his purpose out and shown me there are more good people than not in the world. My father always said that; he always said you hear so much bad that all the good is downplayed, and people don’t realize good exists also.

The truth is, until you need these people in your life, you don’t know they are there. When something like this happens, one of two things happens; people either show their best qualities, or they show their worst qualities. There will be a few of each, and when people who you thought cared the most show their worst qualities, it hurts greatly. When people show their best qualities, however, you will find the pain of betrayal pales in comparison. You will find the pain is not as hard to put out of your mind as you might think. There is so much more power in love than in betrayal. I have found through suffering that love has been its greatest reward, and I would have never found so much love had this not happened to me.

Well, that’s all for now. Take care, and I will, “see” you next week!
Love & Hugs,
Beckie

battlecfs.wordpress.com
http://beckiebutcherwrites.com

youtube.com/watch?v=Y0aEcnleBOE

#cfs #cfsisreal #cfsawareness #cfswarrior #beckiebutcher
#beckiesbattle #beckieoffershope #chronicfatiguesyndrome #wordprompts

So Sorry To Be Late….

Well, good morning, everybody! At least, it is where I am in the mid western United States.
Two things have delayed this; the first is I was not doing well on Wednesday and Thursday. I could hardly get off the couch. The second is I had a semi emergency with my beloved cat, Boo Boo Kitty. I am happy to say he is doing much better now; so is his mama.

Anyway, I would like to share something from devotionals I read this week. It said instead of seeing us how we are, God sees us for who He created us to be. You see, when God created us, He gave us abilities; He created us with potential, potential to do His work by turning CFS around into something good. He calls us to do this. He sees us as workers in His kingdom, not as disabled people. Therefore, we do have a purpose.

I sometimes feel as though I am not living up to Gods’ potential for me. According to another devotional I read, although we are not where we are supposed to be, we are not where we used to be, either. We must be patient while God leads us there. Every day, He is moving us forward, and we must look to Him, pray to Him, and wait in silence for Him to reveal His purpose for our lives with CFS.

Think about your talents for a minute. Do you sing? Do you play an instrument? Do you draw or paint? If so, those are gifts God gave you to express yourselves, and they can be wonderful therapy for yourselves and others. If you play guitar, sit and strum it for a while. See what comes out of yourself. Sing. Turn your thoughts into lyrics. You never know what is inside of you until you do it. This is what writing does for me. When I write my blog and when I wrote my book, feelings poured out of me I didn’t even know existed. I never realized the extent of my sadness and anger until my words were poured out on paper. Talents can turn into catharsis very quickly; it is cleansing.

This is what God wants us to be. Ask God to help you look inside yourselves. He will help you discover how you can inspire others. Music soothes my soul; some people are soothed by beautiful paintings. If you paint, do it. Post it on social media. You never know who you are going to reach. None of us know the power we have to make others feel better until we throw ourselves out there. Remember, we may not be where we are supposed to be, but we are not where we used to be. Look to Him to lead the way.

Well, that’s all for now.
Take care and have a wonderful week! “Talk,” to you soon!
Beckie

battlecfs.wordpress.com
http://beckiebutcherwrites.com

youtube.com/watch?v=Y0aEcnleBOE

#cfs #cfsisreal #cfsawareness #cfswarrior #beckiebutcher
#beckiesbattle #beckieoffershope #chronicfatiguesyndrome #wordprompts

Greetings From A Frigid Chicago, Illinois!

Hello, friends far and near from Chicago, Illinois.
During this past week, we have had below zero temperatures, and it has been absolutely miserable. As recent as last year, I was downright miserable with the CFS in the extreme cold. The pain was so severe all I could do was cry. This year, however, was much different. The pain was not nearly as bad, and I was in a much better mood. I was much more resilient, and my survivor attitude had returned, because of what God reminded of this past Christmas Season. He brought many people back into my life who, although I had not seen them in a while, showed me great love by wanting to bless me with things they remembered I loved and would enjoy. It meant so much to me because it had been YEARS since I was the recipient of such kindness. I thought I had been forgotten, but God wasn’t about to let that happen. The CFS/FM had been so overwhelming I had completely forgotten what all I had to be thankful for, in spite of the physical and emotional pain I had been enduring. Bad memories of my family situation and how cruel and thoughtless they had been had taken over my mind, my body, and my world. Between that pain and the physical pain I had, the evil one had really gotten a stronghold on my life. But God said, “Nope! I don’t think so! You deserve a better life, and I am going to give it back to you. You have been through enough, and I don’t want you to suffer anymore”.

I also received a feeling of peace regarding the trigger point injections as well. I felt He was nudging me to do that. It was a part of Him giving me a better life. Just the fact I would be soon feeling better made me relax, thus improving physical and metal anguish I had been facing. Yes, I’m poor, but one of Gods’ blessings which I had also forgotten about was a very kind doctor who said I could just keep paying a little bit at a time. He doesn’t want me to suffer either. I felt Gods’ reassurance everything would be ok. He would take care of me if I took care of myself. He gave me the strength to not worry about that, as it only makes the CFS/FM worse. I finally realized nobody, especially God, wants me to suffer. After all, He has given me the assignment of helping people through sharing my experiences, and I cannot do that if I am weak in any way. This is what He wanted; it’s all for Him, so He nudged me to do what is necessary. He will take care of the rest.
I now have the joy of knowing He is there, and He will do what is necessary to help me help you. This is what helps get us through this illness. God will give us what we need. Yes, we suffer, and I know how difficult it is. I know what it is like to wonder if you’re ever going to get through the rest of you life. I know what it is like to want it to end. Somehow though, we do get through it. There is a reason we are still here, and it’s because, for whatever reason, He needs us here. We don’t always know why. Perhaps it’s to inspire others and illustrate life can be lived even though you are in a great deal of pain. I have been told by many they don’t know how I do it. Perhaps that’s just the point. It can be done, and it can be done with Gods’ help. Whether we consciously ask for it or not, He gives us His help. It’s help to do good with our circumstances. He does not create this, but He needs us to somehow make the best of it and inspire others.

Well, that’s it for this week.
Take care, and I will, “talk,” to you next week!
Hugs,
Beckie.

battlecfs.wordpress.com
http://beckiebutcherwrites.com

youtube.com/watch?v=Y0aEcnleBOE

#cfs #cfsisreal #cfsawareness #cfswarrior #beckiebutcher
#beckiesbattle #beckieoffershope #chronicfatiguesyndrome #wordprompts

Not Too Long.

What are your thoughts on the concept of living a very long life?

I wouldn’t mind living a long life so long as I didn’t outlive everybody else. It would get too lonely.

My Awakening; Perspective, Then and Now

Well, hello again, friends far and near!
So glad to be back in touch. I hope you are well.

Well, I had an exceptionally good and joy filled week. As I mentioned last week, the end of 2023 was especially inspiring and cleansing for me. My heart became lighter and more open to the peace and love of God. It was time. I was filled with joy as if in a dream. It happened out of the blue. Only God can do that.

I tried several things on my own to try and help myself, such as reading devotionals and the Bible, but I just wasn’t ready. As strange as it sounds, the darkness and anger which had weighed me down for so long was necessary before things would get better for me. The darkness needed to be very dark for the light of His healing to truly shine within me for all to see. The fact I was sure it would never happen and didn’t think I would ever know joy and happiness again made the healing I am experiencing much more meaningful. The contrast was necessary.

As far as the connection to the CFS/FM, well, that is better, too. I am healthier spiritually and emotionally, and it helps me through my physical struggles. After all, God brought me through my mental and emotional suffering, and I now TRULY understand He will help me through my physical suffering.

My attitude is better; my attitude is right with God. I have the spiritual strength to get through the day which I was sorely lacking for so long. I look at CFS/FM differently now. I see it as a tool with which to inspire those who suffer rather than as a hinderence, and I’m sincere about it. Instead of just thinking the right thoughts and saying the right words, all the while not really feeling them in my heart, I now feel them deeply with peace, joy, and conviction. I am joyful in sharing my journey once again. The once high-spirited, zippy, feisty, spunky Beckie has returned, and I have to admit, because I felt so defeated, I never thought she would. She was the Beckie I sorely missed and wanted back more than anything. Well, she’s BACK, and NOTHING, I mean NOTHING is going to stop her or make her disappear again. Ahhh…..feels good.

God brought me back to where I need to be, which is reaching out and helping others, only this time with conviction. I felt like such a fraud; I felt like a hypocrite for not practicing what I was preaching. My message was more, “Do as I say, not as I do,” and that was wrong. I meant well; I didn’t want anybody to travel the road I was traveling. It was the wrong road, very wrong. I always knew what I was writing to be right, but something was missing. I said it for your sake, but it was hard on me because, although I knew it was right, I didn’t feel it. I do now, and things will be easier, because I too, will get more out of it. By the Grace of God, it ended well. All’s well that ends well, right?

I guess the lesson here is hang in there. Don’t give up on God, because, at the end of the day, He will not give up on you. Although it was a very long time and I never thought it would happen, He brought me back to Him when I least expected it, and it was in His time. He knew when the time was right and when it would mean the most to me. He knew when I would get the most out of it.

Well, that’s all for this week.
Be happy and healthy this week, and stay safe!
Love & Hugs,
Beckie

battlecfs.wordpress.com
http://beckiebutcherwrites.com

youtube.com/watch?v=Y0aEcnleBOE

#cfs #cfsisreal #cfsawareness #cfswarrior #beckiebutcher
#beckiesbattle #beckieoffershope #chronicfatiguesyndrome #wordprompts

Happy New Year!

Hello, dear friends, and Happy New Year to you!
I hope you have been well and are looking forward to new beginnings! I know I am. Time off was exactly what I needed. I was able to relax, take care of things at home, and not have to worry about what I was going to write about next, as creating is hard work. It involves thinking, planning, researching, and checking and double checking information. Then, I have to write it, which includes proofreading and editing. It’s not that I don’t enjoy it, it’s just a lot of work to do without much energy. So, I just relaxed and enjoyed my friends and family. I also started a new treatment, which I will discuss in a minute.

The end of 2023 was significant to me. I felt it was symbolic; it was a foreshadowing of the year ahead, which felt very positive.

First, I got a phone call from the Administrator of my church, who also happens to be my good friend, saying my church friends were thinking about me. She proceeded to tell me someone anonymously gifted me a copy of the new church cookbook( I love to cook)they had put together this year, and my Minister had some Meijer Gift cards for me. He has done this before, and chose to do it again. When I went to pick them up, I noticed another gift card in a small envelope. I wondered what in the world it could be. It was to my favorite restaurant, and it was for a considerable amount! I was on cloud nine, as it restored my faith in humankind. I felt loved and valued again, as 2023 was a disheartening year for me. It’s so easy to feel as though you’re not worth much when you are so sick and in pain all the time and people you love stab you in the back.

Then, on New Years’ Eve Day, I was taken to breakfast by a former classmate who is now my good friend. It was out of the blue, as she contacted me the day before, and she stated she would be paying. I thought,” Oh, how nice”! Well, it was much nicer than I expected. She was a few minutes late, and when she walked in, I noticed she had a large gift bag. Half way through the meal, I opened the gifts one by one. I kept thinking I was nearing the bottom of the bag, but I discovered there were several small gifts at the bottom. I felt like I was digging for gold.

The gifts I received meant so much to me not because of materialism, but because people thought so much of me and loved me so much they wanted to bless me. It was timed perfectly! It did wonders for my disposition, not to mention the CFS/FIBRO. There is definitely a mind/body connection there. I relaxed and let my friends and family love me, and it did me a world of good.

When I came home that day, something occurred to me; this happened at the end of the year for a reason. It seemed symbolic, representing fresh starts, healing, joy, and other good things to come. My heart was lighter, purged of anger, negative thoughts, and darkness. Hmmm….it was all so perfectly aligned. Then again, God does do that, doesn’t He? He lines things up and puts people in the right places when we need them. Ok, I thought; this is my cue. Time for anger and sadness to stop and time for joy to begin. I decided to begin 2024 by reading morning devotionals. I had tried this several times before to try and help myself, but it was just too hard. The words I read made me sad and angry all at the same time. I would cry bitter tears, not tears of joy. Nothing was released; I wasn’t ready for that yet, but I am now. I get something out of it now, whereas before, I would read and think, “yeah, right. That again”. Reading touches my heart now, and it touches it in different and real way. It’s more pure and more honest now.

I also made a decision concerning my treatment. It was something my Chiropractor had mentioned to me before, but, as usual, I was worried about money. I wanted to pay my bill off in full, as I feel guilty carrying balances. However, I’m fed up with being consumed with financial worries, I’m fed up with being in such pain, and I’m fed up with having to, “suck it up”. I made up my mind it isn’t worth it. I deserve better. So, I began trigger point injections. It is a procedure where they inject lido-cane through a tiny needle to break up scar tissue and release and loosen trigger points in the muscle. Trigger points are highly sensitive and painful nodules in the muscle, and they are common in chronic musculoskeletal conditions such as CFS/FM. I have noticed improvement. My muscles are not nearly as tight, making the pain lesser and making me more able to function without being in as much pain. My physical therapy stretches are easier, too. I feel better systemically. When my chiropractor adjusted me yesterday, we both noticed things were not as tight and he mentioned how things moved easier. I noticed a HUGE difference in the movement of the adjustment myself. I decided it is worth it to do this. Ok, my balance will grow again, but I absolutely refuse to let it ruin my life. Money is no longer going to dictate my life or my health. I decided I am not going to suffer anymore and that is all there is to it. My life is worth more than that. So is yours.

Well, I said in my last post in November I would be back as fresh as a daisy and, hopefully, with more inspiration, and I did! I look forward to more. I look forward to more peace, joy, and love. God brought people into my life who chose to bless me with their gifts the last two weeks of the year, and He will do so again. He let me know I was not forgotten when I started thinking I was forgotten. He will do the same for you. Hang in there and keep the faith!
Have a great week!
Beckie.

battlecfs.wordpress.com
http://beckiebutcherwrites.com

youtube.com/watch?v=Y0aEcnleBOE

#cfs #cfsisreal #cfsawareness #cfswarrior #beckiebutcher
#beckiesbattle #beckieoffershope #chronicfatiguesyndrome #wordprompts

Share what you know about the year you were born.LBJ was ...

Share what you know about the year you were born.

LBJ was voted in as President. That’s all I know.

Terrifying!

Tell us about your first day at something — school, work, as a parent, etc.

My first day on the job as a full fledged Lab Technician was TERRIFYING! I was holding people’s very lives in my hands. But, I did it, and it now helps me help others thru my writing and in other ways.