6 Comments so far

1. lynn on May 8, 2007 12:18 pm

   Good point about ministering to those in chronic pain. I remember giving a friend with fibromyalgia a shoulder pat at church one time and she said “Ouch, that’s too hard.” If we don’t deal with that ourselves, it’s something we often don’t even think about.

2. patsikora on May 8, 2007 8:29 pm

   Yes, great point. and even beyond that, there are so many limitations that make it hard for people in chronic pain to be part of a group. Energy issues. Pain issues. I have one friend who has extreme sensitivity to fluorescent lights, so she can’t be in most meeting rooms. And even incandescent lighting needs to be very low–a problem for others in the group who are trying to read their Bibles. Another who is sensitive to heat, so needs the room to be about 55 degrees–too chilly for most of us. If you haven’t had to live with chronic pain, it’s easy to be judgmental and intolerant. But these people are awfully lonely and need someone to accommodate their needs. Something to think about.

3. Fibromyalgia Awareness Day May 12 : Why Didn’t You Warn Me? on May 11, 2007 3:55 pm

   […] a follow-up to my post on Chronically Ill are a Challenging Group, I want to alert you that May 12 is Fibromyalgia Awareness Day. Read more about the symptoms of […]

4. Jan Collins on May 11, 2007 6:30 pm

   My husband is extremely allergic to fragrance and my asthma is aggravated by any strong odor. Several times we’ve had to change churches because the perfume worn by members and used in the building made it impossible for us to keep attending the churches we left.

   Nobody knows for sure how many people have allergies to perfumes, but estimates are as high as 17 % of the population. Avoiding perfumes is something all of us can do to help people with allergies and asthma.

5. patsikora on May 13, 2007 10:23 pm

   Good point, Jan. As I’ve gotten older my allergies and asthma have gotten worse too. Sensitivity is important in both church and our small groups. I have become so allergic to animals that I can no longer attend meetings in homes of people who have pets. It’s been a hard transition. I feel bad saying, “I can’t come to your home.” And of course, that means that I need to be willing to host a lot more. For years I tried to ignore the problem and hosts were good about keeping the pets out of the meeting room. But of course, the dander was in the carpets and furniture. Often I wouldn’t react until a few hours later, so no one knew how much it bothered me. But this is the first year I’ve been healthy all winter, and the main change is diligently avoiding exposure to animals.

   So small group leaders, be alert for people who start missing meetings or show allergic reactions to homes with pets, fragrances, light, or whatever else causes problems. And then be willing to move your meetings to a place those with allergies and asthma can be comfortable and healthy.

6. Lisa Copen on July 23, 2007 9:49 pm

   Thank you for your kind comments about ministering to the chronically ill. We have many resources and if you’d like I’d be glad to send a complimentary copy of one of my books, “Beyond Casseroles: 505 Ways to Encourage a Chronically Ill Friend.” It’s packed with great ideas for small groups to also use to outreach to anyone who is hurting.

   Sept 10-16, 2007 is also National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week, which is sponsored by my ministry, Rest Ministries. We invite anyone to http://www.invisibleillness.com for more information. This is a week that we also try to educate churches more in depth about the needs of the chronically ill (nearly 1 in 2 people!)

   Blessings,
   Lisa Copen