Advent. Christmas. New Year’s. Every year, they come around once a year. And we plan carefully, putting activities into narrow windows, packing them into our schedules.But often, for those of us with chronic illness and pain, we can be derailed. Sideswiped by health problems. And then, what happens to our carefully planned holiday lives?

As it happens, this year, this happened to me. Last week was, for all intents and purposes, a “lost” week. Right in the midst of holiday fun and many planned activities, my right eye started to give me trouble. The trouble, it seems, had all the makings of shingles in the eye. So, instead of gift-shopping, I went prescription shopping, and spent the rest of the week (and, indeed, this weekend), resting, treating, and “feeling the pain” of missing everything that had been on my schedule. Fun things. Joyful things. Things I’d really looked forward to.

And now, comes the difficult part (er, that is, apart from dealing with this particularly painful eye problem). I’ll have to be strong about not trying to make up for the lost time.

Yes, even as the holiday season barrels on, recovering from a serious infection will require easing rather than squeezing into Advent/Christmas action.  It’s going to be difficult, but necessary. But I feel no resentment or angst about it or the “lost” time. Rather, I feel a continuation of November’s holiday sentiment: Thanksgiving.

Last week and this weekend was extremely difficult, of course. But it also showed me many wonderful things. The pleasure of quiet and rest. The support of friends (chicken soup, rides to and from the doctor, and cheery phone calls were all true blessings!). Catching the infection early (thank you, Lord!) and starting treatment promptly. Christmas music. The chill in the air that smells of Yuletide.

Finally, this experience has reminded me that, no matter what happens, days are never lost and time is never gone in a void. Each 24-hour period in our lives is precious and can show us God’s blessings.  And I’m especially thankful that, despite the problems in my right eye, I was able to see that “through it all.”

Blessings for the day,

Maureen