Category: Health

Learning Of A Developing Health Condition Early On

Days following a routine well-woman exam, I came into learning of a developing health condition early on that I had no idea was going on inside my body.

Though totally unexpected, days following a routine well-woman exam, I came into learning of a developing health condition early on that I had no idea was going on inside my body. Fortunately, it was not yet problematic and one I had the immediate ability to do things on my end to forestall it from becoming that way.  

When I went in for my annual well-woman exam, I felt comfortable and confident I was healthy and well. Though I had noted to my doctor after their apologizing for having cold hands that I too tend to lean towards feeling cold at times, which was conclusive of my 97.7 temperature that was taken as soon as I entered the office, I attributed it to my getting older. At the same time I questioned if I may be coming into the normal and natural phase of menopause as I am unsure if I have also been experiencing hot flashes or just feeling flushed due to it being summer time. The doctor expressed no concern. My weight and blood pressure were good and the examination itself went very well. 

The next day, upon fasting, I returned to have routine lab work taken as part of the annual well exam. Again, I felt very comfortable and confident in my health and that all the results would come back normal. The only concern I had was of possibly passing out as I was feeling sluggish from fasting and I do not like needles. It was a tender mercy as I have a good vein they were able to draw blood from and the phlebotomist was awesome, I did not pass out.  

A couple of days later, a day before I anticipated getting the results back, it was a tender mercy that preceding a midmorning call from a triage nurse at the doctor’s office, I had a subtle thought enter my mind when I awoke that morning. It was a nonchalant and peaceful thought that passed without my thinking anything more of it. I had the thought that it was good I was getting the results of the blood work now so that I may attend to a concern before it becomes serious. 

While listening to the nurse share with me two results just slightly out of range, it was a tender mercy the thought I received when I awoke prepared me for the call and I was calm. Right away I went into proactive mode and took the initiative to find out all I could about the readings and what they meant. It was a tender mercy I learned what I did when I did. I have actively begun to implement what I can do to bring each back into a normal reading before my health in those two areas becomes a problem.  

Originally, when scheduling the routine, annual exam, the earliest I was able to get in for an appointment that worked with my schedule and when the doctor had an opening was in the Fall. With the Covid-19 spread on the rise and not knowing months out what that will lead to as well as a desire to travel this summer, returning just prior to the appointment and potentially needing to quarantine for 2 weeks after getting back, I wanted to get the appointment out of the way. I called the office several times in hopes that I could get in earlier if there was a cancellation. At the time, I did not know that speeding up the appointment would be beneficial in a very important way. Amazingly, it was a tender mercy that when I called on a Thursday afternoon, I was able to be seen the upcoming Monday afternoon which was ideal timing and within a window that worked for me.

It turns out that feeling cold is a symptom associated with a health condition that I learned from the lab results my body may be on the verge of starting to undergo. Luckily, no other symptoms at this time are present and all other lab work tied to the condition is normal. It was a tender mercy that in learning of the developing health condition early on, I have been able to immediately do something about it to hopefully prevent the condition from progressing to a problematic state. 

When have you come into learning of a developing health condition early on that you were unaware your body was starting to undergo and time was on your side to do what you could to forestall its progression? 

tendermercym❤️ments~jld

“How have you noticed Heavenly Father’s awareness and mindfulness of you today?”

*If you would like to receive an email when new posts are published which includes an audio version of the posts as well, please send your name and email address to tendermercymoments@gmail.com.

Was I Truly Coming Down With Something Or Not

Following a quick trip to the grocery store during the Covid-19 outbreak, I began feeling that I may be coming down with something. Was I truly coming down with something or not?

Up to this point, my family and I have all remained healthy and well throughout the COVID-19 quarantine. However, following a quick trip to the grocery store I began feeling that I may be coming down with something. Although the physical symptoms I felt were real, head pressure and queasiness, I wondered if they were manifesting from a false sense of reality or if I was legitimately getting sick. Not wanting to get overly worked up about the possibility of the latter, I stayed levelheaded as I processed through whether I was truly coming down with something or not. 

Since the quarantine began several weeks back, I have become so used to staying home. When it was time to go to the grocery store to get milk, I was not the least bit in a hurry. In fact, I dragged my feet and delayed as long as possible. It was not until the evening of the following day after we ran out of milk that I made an effort to go buy more before the store closed. 

It was my first time out with my makeshift fabric mask covering my mouth and nose since the mandate to wear them while in public places. Upon my arrival at the grocery store, I took the available precautionary measures to stay healthy by using disinfecting wipes supplied by the store to wipe down not only the shopping cart but also my hands after opening refrigerator and freezer doors and picking up packaged meat. 

As I walked inside and was surrounded by other shoppers wearing face masks of differing variations and some also wearing protective gloves along with noting the existence of clear plastic dividers at the registers between the cashier and customers as well as decals on the floors throughout the grocery store for to adhere to the required spacing of physical distance between patrons, an icky feeling overcame me and continued even after I returned home. 

While lying in bed after settling in for the night, my head felt out of sorts and my body was on the verge of feeling achy. Though I allowed myself to feel what I was feeling, I wondered if my body was merely responding to the visible awareness I observed at the grocery store of society protecting themselves from catching the coronavirus rather than my actually coming down with something. 

I considered the experience similar to feeling like having earphones in my ear when I don’t have them in anymore or feeling like I am still wearing roller skates/ice skates after no longer having them on my feet or when hearing about others having lice and worrying if I too have lice when my head starts to itch. 

With the uncertainty of whether I was truly coming down with something or not, I consciously decided to redirect my thoughts away from the possibility that I was, as I felt that if I continued down that path I would probably very well become ill, as the saying goes along the lines of, “If you think you are, you are”. Instead I focused on my body actually being well as I thought about what I do to care for my body and the foods I eat that are healthy. To this thought process, I fell asleep. 

The next day it was a tender mercy that the symptoms I had the night prior were gone. I rested on the fact that the measures I saw in place to protect employees and shoppers was what brought on the symptoms and not that I was actually coming down with something. Phew!!

When have you wondered if you were truly coming down with something or not after being in an environment to which you felt icky and you came to realize that your physical symptoms were in response to external stimuli and not that you were actually coming down with something?

tendermercym❤️ments~jld

“How have you noticed Heavenly Father’s awareness and mindfulness of you today?”

*If you would like to  receive an email when new posts are published which includes an audio version of the post as well, please send your name and email address to tendermercymoments@gmail.com.

No Longer A Means I Could Rely On

When the bathroom scale was no longer a means I could rely on to check my weight, I felt confident I had a handle on my weight without a scale due the years I had been consistently regulating and maintaining it on a daily basis.

When the battery in my bathroom scale stopped working after years of routinely standing on it to check my weight, it was no longer a means I could rely on to keep myself accountable to my health. 

A few years back, my metabolism plummeted and within a brief period of time my weight skyrocketed. After much research, an ultrasound, blood tests, going to my doctor and hearing of other’s experiences, it was a tender mercy the solution for me that reversed these sudden adverse changes my body was going through came down to a few things— eating breakfast, drinking enough water, and not exceeding a regimented calorie intake relative to my age and activity level. 

As I began doing these overall 3 things consistently, throughout the course of several months my weight gradually dropped down to my ideal goal weight and I gained back my metabolism, albeit not to the same degree as my younger years, but to the degree my feeling constant fatigue dissipated. Since that time, my weight and metabolism have remained stable. 

As my eating lifestyle shifted for the better, I desired to maintain the above adjustments ongoing. The key factor that kept me accountable to my health was checking my weight various times throughout most days other than resting from doing so on Sundays. My reliance on the number on the scale became routine.

Eating breakfast is hard for me. Drinking enough water is hard for me. If I saw that my weight increased when I missed eating breakfast and lacked drinking enough water, I knew I needed to improve at both so as not to return to my metabolism shutting down and my weight rapidly increasing again. Stepping on the scale often helped me to stay on top of doing what was best for my health. 

During the COVID-19 stay-at-home order, the battery in my scale stopped working and I did not have a replacement on hand. With my trips to the store becoming less frequent due to the order and not knowing where to get the exact battery for the bathroom scale, I did not foresee myself replacing it anytime soon. 

For years I have remained focused on regulating and maintaining my health on a day-to-day basis. As such, although I have come to rely on the bathroom scale to keep me in check, it was a tender mercy that the scale now being no longer a means I could rely on was not earth shattering. In fact, upon not having a replacement battery, it was a tender mercy I realized and felt confident I could continue to consistently and diligently maintain my healthy weight even without the scale. 

When have you relied on something that was no longer a means you could rely on and in its absence you realized you could still go on just fine without it? 

tendermercym❤️ments~jld

“How have you noticed Heavenly Father’s awareness and mindfulness of you today?”

*If you would like to receive an email when new posts are published, please send your name and email address to tendermercymoments@gmail.com.

All Squared Away Just In Time

Preliminary processes for a particular procedure were all squared away just in time before circumstances potentially postponed it until a much later date.

As the coronavirus pandemic has quickly altered the course of day-to-day living and many calendared events have been put on hold, it was a tender mercy I was able to finalize and get plans for a particular treatment that would take place incrementally over many months all squared away just in time prior to the office possibly closing their doors for, at the least, a couple of weeks.  

At the beginning of the month, before the coronavirus outbreak, I scheduled a free consultation to go over the details of the treatment. The appointment was set for a Friday morning just over a couple of weeks away. With the rapid progression of the virus, two days prior to the appointment, I called the office questioning whether or not the schedule would hold and they confirmed the appointment.  

The day before the appointment, I happened to be speaking with someone in an optometrist office and learned from them that starting on Monday they would sadly be closing their doors for two weeks as per CDC and local government recommendations and that others with like health practices were encouraged to do the same. Hearing this news and information was a tender mercy as it prepared me to be more deliberate in my decision that would come into play the next day. 

Upon arriving at the appointment, I was surprised when I was stopped as soon as I opened the door and understandably required to have my temperature taken before being allowed to fully come inside the office. Though spring allergies were in full bloom and I was experiencing the impact, it was a tender mercy I did not have a temperature and was permitted to proceed with the appointment. In the office’s attempt to maintain a healthy environment for all their patients, the waiting room was empty as appointments were spread out to conform to social distancing practices.  

At the completion of the consultation, I approved the treatment layout and was ready for it to begin. Before making a final decision on one specific payment plan, I wanted to confer with my husband first, however, he was on a business call at work and unable to be reached. 

With the office closing mid-afternoon, just over an hour away and no guarantee they would be open for sure Monday morning, I wanted to have the payment and preliminary processes taken care of before leaving so treatment could begin as soon as possible rather than delayed for sometime later on down the road. 

It was a tender mercy I was able to touch base with my husband within minutes and everything that was essential to get the ball rolling was all squared away just in time before the office closed for the day and prior to their possibly closing their doors for, at the least, a couple of weeks.

When have you come to know ahead of time about a possible delay in a procedure you preferred to have taken place sooner rather than later and you were able to get what needed to be done all squared away just in time prior to its potential postponement?

tendermercym❤️ments~jld

“How have you noticed Heavenly Father’s awareness and mindfulness of you today?”

*If you would like to receive an email when new posts are published, please send your name and email address to tendermercymoments@gmail.com.

When In Doubt, Throw It Out

As the quality of the hamburger was questioned and the phrase “when in doubt, throw it out” came to mind, fortunately the meat was just fine and there was no harm in eating it.

Whenever the quality of food comes into question, I naturally lean towards following this commonly sound advice, “when in doubt, throw it out”.

On this cold, cold winter day, I was looking forward to making a friend’s homemade chili recipe for dinner, a very simple and easy recipe that is my go-to on days like today:

1 lb ground beef

1/4 to a whole chopped onion (if desired). If using dried onions, reconstitute first.

1 package taco flavoring  

1 16 oz can corn  

1 16 oz can kidney bean  

1 28 oz can diced tomato  

1 15 oz can tomato sauce  

Brown meat and cook onion, then add rest of recipe, simmer 20-25 min.

Earlier in the week as I went grocery shopping with my children, whom one of them, all on their own, made a list of healthy food choices they desired for school lunches and family dinners and took on the shopping, all on their own, with me by their side, it was awesome that included among the ingredients was hamburger. 

In an interest to have warm comfort food on this brrr of a night, I asked my child if I could use the hamburger they originally intended for a different meal to make the delicious chili and they were on board. 

In preparing to cook the meat that had been in the fridge for a few days, after opening the tied grocery bag to get to the produce bag that had the packaged tube of hamburger inside, I pulled out a knife from a knife block to slice apart the packaged hamburger across the middle lengthwise.  

Before cutting into the packaging, I noticed a small hole in the wrapping. I was concerned that the hamburger may be bad. I began to question whether I should cook the meat or not. The phrase, “when in doubt, throw it out” surfaced to the forefront of my mind, but then I considered the possibility that perhaps I incidentally nicked the outer plastic covering with the knife as I had it up against the tube while looking away briefly. 

As I contemplated what I should do, throw the meat out or cook it, I decided that once I split open the tube, if the meat was red and looked fresh then it was good to use and if it was a tainted grey or a faded brown in color, it was bad and I would throw it out in a heartbeat. It was not worth my or my family’s physical health to cook up ten dollars of meat if it was bad.

As all I had to go off of at this point was the fact that there was a hole in the packaging, a repeated question I kept tossing back and forth in my mind was whether it was there at the time of purchase or did it come about by me. In trying to discern between which of the two considerations was the actual case, I felt more so confident it was the later. 

As I began slicing the package open, I stopped to check the expiration date and was relieved it was still a couple days away. Once I had the tube open, it was a happy sight and a tender mercy to see that all of the meat was red and looked fresh.

Time and again, I automatically when in doubt, throw it out, however, on this occasion, it was a tender mercy I felt a peaceful calm that the meat was just fine. It did not feel good to throw it out. What felt good was to cook it and eat it.

Upon cooking the chili, even though doubt creeped in all the while I was browning the hamburger and the chili was simmering, I was able to over and over again not allow my thoughts of doubt to take over and to stay aligned with the stillness of the peace and assurance I felt that the hamburger was just fine and that our family would not be harmed by eating it. We thoroughly enjoyed the yummy chili and we did not get sick. 

When have you questioned the quality of food you were about to prepare to serve yourself and others and though the phrase “when in doubt, throw it out” was considered, you felt a peaceful calm the food was just fine and no one got sick from eating it?

tendermercym❤️ments~jld

“How have you noticed Heavenly Father’s awareness and mindfulness of you today?”

*If you would like to receive an email when new posts are published, please send your name and email address to tendermercymoments@gmail.com.

Special Occasion Celebration Was Postponed

A special occasion for celebration was postponed when not feeling well on the actual day.

Though my birthday coincided with a national holiday this year and it was not only exciting that my kids would have the day off of school, but also that I was looking forward to it being an extended weekend of birthday fun and relaxation, sadly, due to my not feeling well, my birthday celebration was postponed. 

Traditionally, as a family, when it’s a member’s birthday, we all go out to eat at their favorite restaurant. I planned to go out, but my state of being was not aligned with the day’s agenda. The number of times I tried to get out earlier in the day, I couldn’t do it. It was futile. Each attempt was fruitless. My body just wasn’t having it. Finally, I conceded to not going out at all. 

I loved that it was a sunny day, and though from inside my house it appeared to be warm outside, it was actually a bit chilly which for what my body was experiencing, mostly heavy head pressure, I didn’t want to leave the warmth and comfortableness of my home. 

I imagined and envisioned that holding my head upright while sitting in a booth on a chilly night with the cold going right through me would be quite unpleasant and miserable. So, rather than push myself to do what I originally desired as it would be too much of a strain, I made the decision to stay home. It was what it was and I accepted it, though an absolute bummer that on the one day a year to celebrate me, I was not up to it. 

However, as soon as I relinquished my plans of going out, a weight I didn’t know I was feeling was lifted. I lowered my expectations of what I hoped would happen throughout the day, so much so that by the end of the day I didn’t realize how much I had accepted my circumstances and dissociated from not celebrating my birthday until I was asked by one of my children if I would be blowing out any candles. Though I was surprised that this tradition had completely slipped my mind, the mention of it caused my head pressure to magnify and was a definitive no-go. 

The day was not a complete disappointment though as I had wanted to finish a book I had started weeks back and being able to rest and read the book on this day was wonderful! Not only that, it was a tender mercy when the thought entered my mind that although this day was my actual birthday, I could still celebrate on any other day and it would be just as special. Upon this acknowledgement, my low countenance quickly boosted to happy anticipation of being able to celebrate when I felt better. 

When have you felt unwell at a time of celebration on your behalf and the special occasion celebration was postponed until you felt better?

tendermercym❤️ments~jld

“How have you noticed Heavenly Father’s awareness and mindfulness of you today?”

*If you would like to receive an email when new posts are published, please send your name and email address to tendermercymoments@gmail.com.

One For Me And One For You

With most all shopping carts being used by other patrons, it was a tender mercy that when you and another shopper not far behind you entered the store, there were still two available carts, “One For Me And One For You!”

“Yay, one for me and one for you!” was my quiet expression of gratitude when walking into a store full of shoppers and seeing that the only cart left by the entrance/exit was available for me as well as spotting an unattended cart nearby for another shopper that came in not far behind me whom was also desirous of having a cart. 

Post Christmas and New Years as the holiday break was coming to a close, I went to a particular store to return a couple of Christmas presents that did not work as intended and to purchase a few end-of-season clearance and regular priced gift items. Once inside, I noticed a long checkout line and the number of available carts had dwindled down to one. It was a tender mercy that when I arrived, there was at least one remaining shopping cart by the entrance/exit. 

As I settled my personal belongings and returns into the cart and was preparing to step away, I observed another shopper that had come in soon after I did looking for a cart. Though I could have kept the last cart for myself as per the phrase “first come, first serve”, I was willing to give it up to them, however, I too needed a cart. 

With a very sore shoulder from overextending one of my arms a few days earlier, carrying anything caused uncomfortable pain so going into the packed store and being able to snatch up the last available cart near the entrance/exit was a welcomed tender mercy for me. 

Yet, I didn’t want the much older shopper than I to be without a cart so I scanned the area from where I was standing and it was a tender mercy I saw an isolated cart close by in a section between racks of clothing and shelves of merchandise. I turned to the other shopper with an expression of elation, optimistic that we would each have a cart, “one for me and one for you.” 

However, not knowing if the cart with an article of clothing on the seat was being used by someone who may have gone into a nearby toilet room, as I approached the restroom to see if it was vacant or not, an individual stepped out and did not claim the cart when asked and no one else was nearby so it was assumed it had just been randomly left behind. It was a tender mercy we each now had a cart. 

When have you gone into a store and there was a limited quantity of something you and another shopper desired and you were grateful that with what remained there was “one for me and one for you”, meaning one for each of you? 

tendermercym❤️ments~jld

“How have you noticed Heavenly Father’s awareness and mindfulness of you today?”

*If you would like to receive an email when new posts are published, please send your name and email address to tendermercymoments@gmail.com.

The Least Invasive Necessary Medical Treatment

The Least Invasive Necessary Medical Treatment To Heal A Wound Effectively And Adequately Was Applied

As I watched a loved one slip and fall and incur a gash just below one of their kneecaps while they were running in the airport, I prayed that the least invasive necessary medical treatment could be applied to effectively and adequately heal the wound. 

Our family was very excited to greet and welcome a loved one flying home for the holidays. Upon entering the airport, while some of us, including myself, began to head towards baggage claim, a couple of other family members, not knowing exactly where we were meeting the loved one, in competition with each other, took off and raced away in a different direction. 

The moment they split off from the rest of us, I stopped and stood in place dumbfounded by what I was observing unfold. On one hand, I considered their actions of “running” and leaving the group as foolish. On the other hand, I saw that their competitive nature with one another was in all fun and they were innocently enjoying themselves and bonding together. 

Despite the later thought, my look of dismay continued when one of them tripped and fell. While they struggled briefly to get back up on their feet, it was a tender mercy the other family member was right beside them and immediately reached out to help as the injured family member landed awkwardly. 

As I watched the whole occurrence transpire, though I was thoroughly frustrated, annoyed, bothered and upset, I did not say anything out loud to them. It was a tender mercy I resisted any urge to call them out for their actions, instead, I remained silent. I could see that the one injured was experiencing frustrations of their own for what just happened and there was no need for me to say anything at all as I knew my saying anything would make things much worse. 

Initially, when I first saw the bloody wound, the gash site appeared to me as only a scrape. Upon closer examination by myself and another family member after it had been cleaned up, it was realized and agreed that the injury was not just a surface cut but a deeper wound requiring medical attention. It was decided that the best course of action was to take the family member to an urgent care to have the gash looked at by a physician after picking up the loved one when they arrived and before returning back home. 

Despite the frustration I felt inside, especially it being the day before Christmas, I quietly attended to caring for them by bringing out wet and dry paper towels from a nearby restroom to apply to the wound as needed. I also calmly spoke to the reality of their possibly needing stitches at the same time concurring with their desire to not want them and encouraging them to pray as I was praying for the least invasive necessary medical treatment to adequately and effectively be applied to heal their wound. 

When the doctor examined the wound, he shared that though stitches were an option if we wanted to go that route, the bending of the knee while walking and such may cause the stitches to split apart. It was a tender mercy when the doctor also shared that the gash could just as easily heal by keeping it clean, applying vaseline so the wound does not crust over, bandaging it with a non-stick pad and a hurt-free wrap 2 to 3 times a day. Our prayer for the least invasive necessary medical treatment was answered. 

When have you observed a loved one become injured and your prayer for the least invasive necessary medical treatment to be applied for adequate and effective healing of the wound was answered?

tendermercym❤️ments~jld

“How have you noticed Heavenly Father’s awareness and mindfulness of you today?”

*If you would like to receive an email when new posts are published, please send your name and email address to tendermercymoments@gmail.com.*

Visiting The Sick And Afflicted

Visiting The Sick And Afflicted Despite Existing Challenges

Visiting the sick and afflicted is no doubt a special experience especially observing how being with them lifts their spirits, yet the initial going to them and not knowing what to say or do for me is quite uncomfortable.

Having on this day, twice the opportunity to visit the sick and afflicted, it was a tender mercy I didn’t let my own inadequacies get in the way, but I made it a point to go see them despite my anxiousness.  

Though I was super apprehensive of going to the hospital for reasons I don’t know and can’t exactly put my finger on to visit a friend who had been admitted days earlier, with steady intention I set out to go and see them, deliberately staying ahead of my nervousness and reluctance so as not to let my anxieties take hold.

Even though the process to get from point A to point B was an ordeal of sorts from confirming their exact location among the many hospitals in the area, navigating my way around the hospital campus maze until personally guided to a garage closest to the main hospital, circling several flights up a multistory paid covered parking garage before finding an empty parking space, walking down 9 flights of stairs upon learning the elevator did not work, and asking directions to their room once inside the hospital, I remained resolute in going to visit them albeit how anxious I felt each step along the way. 

It was a tender mercy that once I arrived in their room all nervousness, anxiety, and uncomfortableness I had pushed through washed away and we had a wonderful visit. 

Prior to visiting them, I had reached out via text message to another friend I felt the nudge and impression to contact and let them know I was thinking of them and asked how they were doing. As I was entering the hospital I received their reply, “Ok. Having a rough day…”

I did not know what to say back to their vulnerable response, but I also didn’t want to leave them hanging. And, being that texting expressions from the heart is a challenge for me as I am a much better verbal communicator than a written communicator, it was a tender mercy as I pondered what I could offer that was comforting, immediately in my mind, I was impressed to go to their home, two small cities away from me, and give them a hug. 

Incredibly, it was a tender mercy that I happened to be in their town for an appointment that afternoon and when I drove straight to their home afterwards, I showed up at the perfect time. As they opened the door, I said I was there to give them a hug. I was warmly received and right after, spontaneously, as they desired to go out, we went for a drive around town, stopped to get them a soda, and visited for a time at a nearby park. My knock at the door, hug, and visit came at a time that was greatly valued and very much appreciated by them. 

When have you been apprehensive of visiting the sick and afflicted due to your own anxieties and you were able to push through your nervousness and reluctance to bless and be with them in their time of need?

tendermercym❤️ments~jld

“How have you noticed Heavenly Father’s awareness and mindfulness of you today?”

*If you would like to receive an email when new posts are published, please send your name and email address to tendermercymoments@gmail.com.*

A Brighter Outcome Surfaced

A Brighter Outcome Surfaced With Gifts Of Love Abounding All Around

When seeking help for something that was bigger than me, an individual I felt impressed to divulge my heartfelt concerns and desires with did not respond as I had anticipated, however, a brighter outcome surfaced with another individual I felt impressed to contact immediately following the discouraging conversation and met with later in the week.   

Over the course of the past several months, I have felt drawn to reach out, one by one, to those I have come to know who are dealing with struggles of varying degrees under the umbrella of mental illness, unique to each person with no two individuals bearing the same disorder in an identical way. As my heart goes out to them and the battle they are constantly facing, I have wanted each of them to feel cared about and loved, that they do matter and they are important.

In recognizing that connection and compassion is crucial and those who battle the debilitating symptoms often feel isolated, alone, and ostracized and acknowledging the tremendous need for connection and compassion by so many effected and impacted by mental illness is bigger than me, I’ve pondered and wondered what could be done and if there were resources already in place in our community and surrounding area so that connection can be an integral part of their day to day.    

At the close of a meeting one afternoon with an individual in a large leadership position, without knowing the reason why, I acted on an impromptu impression to bring up my desire for those battling mental illness to feel embraced. As this leader was in a capacity where I felt they could assist and be a part of making things happen if there was not something already in place and their being in a career field to which I assumed they would have had a familiarity with the need, I vulnerably opened up and shared my heartfelt concerns.

I was surprised and felt depleted as they seemed indifferent and did not appear to comprehend entirely the magnitude of what I brought to the table. Nonetheless, it was a tender mercy I felt they were someone who after our visit would more so process and consider to greater depths the valuable information I had shared and perhaps down the road someone who may also become an advocate. 

Though I walked away bummed and directionless not knowing what to do next, that was short lived when I immediately felt impressed to reach out to another individual who too was in a leadership role though on a much smaller and personal level with those whom they had stewardship. I really thought our dialogue would revolve around brainstorming and formulating what could be done to provide that connection and implementing it asap. Quite the opposite took place. I was unprepared, yet pleased as a brighter outcome surfaced. 

It was a tender mercy that during our meeting, I learned that I was not alone in my concerns and efforts. I came away enlightened with an awareness from this leader’s vantage point and visibility of the countless others who were silently and in the background already ministering and serving in like ways as myself. The heavy weight of not knowing exactly what to do with the tremendous need being bigger than me was lifted. What has been done and continues to be happening behind the scenes is remarkable and my heart was touched and relieved that connection is abounding all around. 

When have you felt drawn to do something to help many in need but was uncertain how to go about doing it and when reaching out for assistance, a brighter outcome surfaced as you came to learn that beyond your low visibility vantage point, the service you were rendering was happening on a greater scale behind the scenes by countless others too?

tendermercym❤️ments~jld

“How have you noticed Heavenly Father’s awareness and mindfulness of you today?”

*If you would like to receive an email when new posts are published, please send your name and email address to tendermercymoments@gmail.com.*