For those of you who have so far found the New Year disappointing, may you find something to celebrate in saying goodbye to 2018.
It’s time for some stats! I thought I’d continue the tradition…
Last year the introductory posts: But what is Watching? and the About Me tab were very popular. This year they have slid down the list… nice to know we’re all on the same page now 😉
This year also saw the first interviews of other Watchers, which were very exciting – thank you to Helen and Mary for being willing to share your stories!
Another exciting feature of this year was my partnership with Chronic Joy who do a wonderful job of exploring the intersection of Jesus and Chronic illness.
Anyway, without further ado –
Out of the 39 posts published in 2018, these are the ones you liked the most:
Favourite posts of Twenty-eighteen
FIRST PLACE
I have a chronic illness: Is God calling me to sacrifice my health?
Dear Emily,
I have a chronic illness, and I’ve recently been challenged about what it looks like for me to serve, specifically in mission (whether domestic or overseas)…
SECOND
Help! People keep asking after my chronically sick family member… (and there’s nothing left to say)
It is a blessing when those around us remember to ask about our Loved Ones… but it is hard too.
When there is nothing ‘new’ to report, and the truth is that ‘they are the same’ or ‘they’re not going to get any better’ we often don’t want to answer.
We flinch, and wish the question had not been asked…
THIRD
Loving a sick person is too hard! (Watchers, we are not impartial observers)
Being a Watcher is hard, and instead of ‘really’ caring, it’s tempting to disengage emotionally.
When this happens, we become “impartial observers”…
FOURTH
Can I be a missionary if my family member is sick?
You have a family member who is sick. It’s a chronic illness, but you feel called to be a missionary overseas.
Such a calling is a blessing, but it raises a problem. Is it right to leave your chronically ill family member behind?
Or are you bound to your home country to serve them as long as they live?…
FIFTH
Wait! I feel guilty.
They are sick and I am not.
Guilt is an emotion that it is easy to struggle with after a diagnosis of chronic illness.
When we as Watchers see how the illness is impacting our Loved One’s lives, and envision how it will continue to impact their lives,… the guilt creeps in…
// What about you? Did you have a favourite post that wasn’t mentioned above? I’d love to hear what it was!
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