Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

What Would I Do Without God

Home
General Christian
Relationships and Religion
3 Ways to Make Your Pity Party Fruitful

3 Ways to Make Your Pity Party Fruitful

Last updated on: September 25, 2023 at 3:27 pm by Theresa Siller

0 Comments

3 Ways to Make Your Pity Party Fruitful 2023-09-25T15:27:35-04:00 Theresa Siller

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

God always gives us glimmers of Himself. Credit: Rich Siller

When life delivers unexpected suffering, try these 3 tips to overcome self-pity: 1. Think of someone worse off than you. 2. Expect nothing and appreciate everything. 3. Know that all pain has a purpose.

It Always Could Be Worse!

I have a new doctor who is very thorough. She gave me a list of vaccines and screening procedures to get. I’ve been working through all her recommendations, but last week my Tetanus/Diptheria/Pertussis shot threw me for a loop. The resulting pain felt like my whole arm was hollowed out, and a porcupine was crawling around in there.

I literally felt like an invalid, as I could not do anything requiring two hands. I could not lift my cast iron pan, so I could not cook. I could not empty the trash –too weak to even pull the bag out. And putting my hair in a ponytail –forget it.

I was flabbergasted at my deplorable inability to be a contributing member to the household. I felt crappy, too, and had no motivation, so I gave up, went to bed, and bought a riveting Harlan Coben whodunit to read on my Kindle. The device was almost too heavy to hold on to, with only one working hand.

Mary and Jesus are always thinking of us. Credit: Rich Siller

But, alas, God had a lesson for me while on my Pity Pot. I was idly scrolling on Instagram, trying to distract from my acute ache, and lo and behold, I ran across Bethany Hamilton, professional surfer and writer, who was the thirteen-year-old victim of a shark attack in Tunnels Beach, Kauai, in 2003.

My arm was hurting. Her arm was gone.

Okay, Lord, message received.

I believe God allowed the horror of that predatory, cruel fish to take Bethany’s arm, so that her faith example would bring millions more to Him. Her bravery, positivity and inspiration made a gigantic impact on the world. Her comeback story is one for the ages. With only one arm she still crushed her two-armed competition!

This young woman, against all odds, reminds me of The Prayer of Jabez. “God bless me, indeed, and enlarge my territory…” The masses around the world might never have known about Bethany Hamilton’s trust in God, unless she lost her arm in a dramatic fashion, appeared in the media, and made two movies, Soul Surfer, and Unstoppable. She even had cool jewelry I bought for my teenagers at the time. What a joyful role model of faith in God, despite her colossal challenges.

This elite athlete and young teen, lying in a hospital bed, with her professional future hanging in the balance, simply said, “My faith in God was my Rock to get me through.” Mind. Blown. If I could have one-one hundredth of her trust in God…

“Faith is like radar that sees through a fog –the reality of things at a distance that the human eye cannot see.” Corrie Ten Boom Photo Credit: Rich Siller

Today Bethany inspires beleaguered mothers everywhere, while with only three limbs, she successfully raises four children.

Expect Nothing, Appreciate Everything

My friend, Kathleen, always says, “Expect nothing, appreciate everything.” She is so right. My expectations for perfect this and perfect that, always leave me wanting. An expectation is a premeditated resentment. We can order up all the things we’d like to happen in life, but there is no guarantee they will all come true. God is the author-we need to stop stealing His pen! “For My thoughts are not your thoughts; neither are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.”

Isaiah 55:8

As a senior citizen (aka old fart, LOL) I’ve learned to appreciate so many seemingly inconsequential things. I appreciate the variety of birdie visitors to our feeder. I love the photo ops of God’s intricately colorful sunsets. I get such a kick out of the hysterical jokes our daughters tell.

We choose what we will focus on. What will we “feed”? The losses of aging, or the gains? Will we choose bitterness from past regrets, or will we choose hope for the future, knowing God is with us all the way?

Pain Has A Purpose

As my shoulder writhed for two days, I tried to remember that pain brings us closer to Jesus. As always, He gets us.

When I complained about breaking both ankles and tearing my ACL in 2016, my mom said, “Offer it up to God.” Huh? Where was the compassion? But looking back, she was right!

Our pain helps others. It helps souls decrease their time in Purgatory. Our pain also gives an extra punch to our prayers to bring others to God.

Katy Nichole sings a beautiful song, “Hold On”. She reminds us that, “There’s purpose in the pain.” You will see me driving by with my windows down and singing this at the top of my lungs at a red light. The cello descant is breathtaking.

Today my arm feels better. I got to swim my 1/2 mile, do all sorts of chores and write this article. I am healed and very grateful to God. What a relief.

But the next time I have debilitating pain, I will remember to ponder someone who has it worse, lower my expectations and use my pain as a purpose to help others.

Butterflies bring hope.

Butterflies bring hope. Credit: Rich Siller

Progressive Christian

Catholic

Health, Fitness and Religion

Bethany Hamilton

Harlan Coben

Katy Nichole "Hold On" song

Previous Post

September 19, 2023

How Does Faith Help With Alzheimers Care?

Next Post

September 27, 2023 3 Ways to Notice God's Grace in Everyday Life

Recent Comments

0 | Leave a Comment

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category !2-Step Programs 4th Step Inventory 11th Step Prayer-Big book of AA 4th Step Inventory AA adulting Alcoholism Alzheimers Angels help us avoid temptation anxiety Anxiety for the Unknown armor of God autoimmune disorders Avastin eye shots Benefits of attending Eucharistic Adoration Bethany Hamilton Bible verses on peace Big Book of AA Billy Joel song Blessed Mother Blind faith bomb sniffing dogs Bust Stigma canine intelligence Carpal Tunnel Surgery Catechism of the Catholic Church Celebrity Memoir Christian Author Christian exclusivity Christian judgment Christian meanness Claddagh Ring Confidence Contentment danger of texting while driving Dementia Demonic possession Demons Depression Devil Discerning God's Purpose Disease of Addiction dogs' amazing sense of smell Dr. Tony Evans drug sniffing dogs Earth's pleasures are fleeting exorcism Failure Failure faith discussions Father Amorth Fear Feast Day of the Guardian Angels Forgiveness Forgiveness in other faiths Friend Tribe Friendship Ghosting Glennon Doyle God Epiphany God's gift of dogs God's help to forgive God's Peace good deeds Good friends Grace Gratitude Gratitude List greater purpose grounding Guardian Angels Gulf War Harlan Coben Higher Power Sovereignty Holiness Hospital ship Comfort How can the Bible help suicidal ideation? How Important Is It? Identity in God Idols Above God ignore other human's opinions Importance of Community Importance of Morning Prayer Intercessor with Jesus Katy Nichole "Hold On" song Kidney transplant Learn all points of view Let Go and Let God Life Lessons Limbo Life Listening Listening with eye contact Love is a decision lyme disease M. Scott Peck Marriage Advice Matthew Perry RIP Matthew Perry's Addiction Maya Angelou Medical Discharge from the Navy Mental Health millennials not attending church Mother Angelica Movie Soul Surfer Movie Unstoppable National Parents As Teachers Day Natural Family Planning-NFP Natural vs. Artificial contraception Navigating Intimate Relationships Never wear out your welcome Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Only God Can Fill You Otherworldly strength Our Lady of Guadalupe Our Lady of Lourdes Our Lady of Medjugorje Padre Pio peace Prayer of Jabez progressive muscle relaxation proselytizing QTIP Randy Pausch-The Last Lecture recession of 2008 Retinologist Sacrament of Confession Satan Satan's Lies search and rescue dogs Self-Esteem service dogs Shame short-term memory loss spiritual warfare St. John Bosco St. Thomas Aquinas suicide suicide prevention suicide risks The importance of thank-you notes Tony Dungy toxic people Trust Uncategorized unexpected blessings Unfulfilled Soul what would Jesus Do?

Select a Month November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz