I don’t mean that in an arrogant way. I really don’t.

When you’re sick, be it chronically or not, it’s easy to feel like a burden. It’s easy to feel like you don’t contribute to society when you can barely get out of bed or even function.

When you can’t keep up with the housework.

When you struggle with keeping up with the mail.

When you can’t remember to follow up with a friend who’s struggling.

When dinner’s not on time.

When you repeatedly have to re-wash the laundry because you forgot about it AGAIN.

Or you really aren’t safe driving the children here and there because you barely slept the last several nights (or the last year!).

So much time wasted playing catch-up.

So much money spent on you.

And the list goes on and on…

But can I tell you…your value has absolutely nothing to do with those things.

It has nothing to do with how productive you are, how clean you keep your house, how organized you are, how much you do for others.

And the list goes on and on…

You are created in the image of the Living God and because of that you are VALUABLE.

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.
Ephesians 1:4 NIV

See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands
Isaiah 49:16

For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts,^[a] God!
    How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
    they would outnumber the grains of sand—
    when I awake, I am still with you.
Psalm 139: 13-18

Perhaps those around you let you know your needs are an inconvenience. Maybe they sigh like teenage girls because they don’t want bothered with helping you YET AGAIN. Or they get angry, which aggravates your illness. Maybe they treat you like a boat anchor. Maybe they feel they’ve been cheated in life because they have to take care of you.

Can I be very real here…SHAME ON THEM.

They aren’t focusing on God in the midst of their own circumstances. They’re actually being very selfish and immature, but YOU’RE the one made to feel selfish because you’re ill and need help.

They’re missing a precious opportunity to go deeper in their walk with Christ, learning to trust Him in all circumstances.

Step 1:

It’s important to break that cycle within yourself FIRST and to understand your personal VALUE. No matter how you FEEL, no matter how you’re TREATED, you have VALUE because you are a human being created in the image of God.

Step 2:

It’s important to recognize that they too are on a journey. It’s important to be the mature one and extend grace. FIGHT A SPIRIT WITH THE OPPOSITE SPIRIT.

We need to help each other.

Two are better than one,
    because they have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down,
    one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
    and has no one to help them up.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NIV 

I don’t care how sick you are, you are precious.

DON’T LET ANYONE TELL  YOU DIFFERENTLY!