“Accept Yourself As You Are” by Joan Y. Edwards
From June 19, 2020 to July 3, 2020 my husband, Carl, was in the hospital. He is now in rehab. He had a severe infection in half of his colon which caused his blood pressure to drop dangerously low. He fell and I called 911. They took him to emergency room and put him in ICU for 2 days. They cleared up the infection with anti-biotics. No surgery needed. Thank you, God. Then neuropathy set in and still low blood pressure. They gave him medicine to build blood pressure and to keep neuropathy away.
Why am I writing this post? To remind you to love and accept yourself as you are right this moment. Every day of your life, it is vitally important to accept yourself with all your frailties, imperfections, all the things you are capable of doing, and all the things you are not able to do because of things out of your control.
There are certain times in your life it may seem like you are powerless. I felt that way many times during the past two weeks and three days. You want to make people feel better and cure their ailments, especially those you love. However, God is in charge of that. He puts all the people and resources in your life and the life of those you love to give them everything they need at this moment.
Prayer is very powerful. Many people prayed and asked God to heal Carl. His infection is gone. He didn’t need surgery. He is in a great skilled nursing facility with physical therapy and occupational therapy. Thank you, God. Thank you to all those who prayed for Carl.
What I had to accept: That the resources were not available at this time to give Carl the help he needs to get better at home. That God wanted Carl to be in the skilled nursing facility where he has people and resources to help heal him.
I also reminded Carl to love himself as he is. I told him everyone goes through times in their lives when their bodies aren’t doing what they want. I told him that everyone has to remind themselves to love themselves as they are each day of their lives. To say to themselves, I am getting better every day.
I love myself as I am right now.
I can do everything that God wants me to do right now.
I am good.
I am safe.
I am getting better each day.
God loves me very much.
COVID 19 added much stress but thank goodness, things are in place to better protect employees, visitors, and patients in hospitals and skilled nursing facilities. Thank you, God, for all these employees who take risks every day to help others.
Say to yourself:
I love myself as I am right now.
I can do everything that God wants me to do right now.
I am good.
I am safe and well.
God loves me very much.
There are many other great hints that I learned from caring for my Mother to help you care for yourself and for your elder in my book, Joan’s Elder Care Guide: Empowering You and Your Elder to Survive
Never Give Up
Joan Y. Edwards
Copyright © 2009-2020 Joan Y. Edwards
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I’m happy to hear that Carl is doing much better. I hope he’s home with you soon.
Dear Melanie,
Thank you for writing. I appreciate your prayers and good wishes for Carl to be home with me soon!
Do something fun for you today!
Never Give Up
Joan
Joan, what a gift you have to use your experiences to better your readers’ lives. Thank you for this perspective. I hope Carl keeps improving and that he will be home with you soon.
Dear Gretchen,
Thank you for writing. I’m glad you thought it was a good idea to share my life experiences with my readers. Thank you very much for your prayers and good wishes for Carl’s health to continue improving so he can be at home with me soon!
Do something fun for you today!
Never Give Up
Joan
Joan, every night during my meditation I send healing thoughts to a long list of people I know need them. I have added Carl to my list.
Dear Bob,
Thank you for writing. Thank you for adding Carl to the people you send healing thoughts to at night during your meditation. So sweet.
Do something fun for you today!
Never Give Up
Joan
Good to know Carl is doing well. Thank you for your prayer. So simple but powerful. We all get down and forget to cherish the present blessings. Your article is an inspiring reminder.
Dear J.Q.,
Thank you for writing. It is so very good to hear from you. You are welcome for my prayer. I’m glad it speaks to you. You are right. We all get down and forget to cherish the present blessings. I am glad that you believe my article is an inspiring reminder to love ourselves in our current situation. How are things going for you?
Do something fun today!
Never Give Up
Joan
Hi Joan,
Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful faith and positive outlook on life, and how that has helped towards Carl’s healing. I appreciate this reminder for myself and my family during these trying times. You both continue in my prayers.
Sending hugs,
Linda Phillips
Dear Linda,
Thank you for writing. It is so good to hear from you. Thank you for saying that by sharing my faith and beliefs has helped you and will help your family as you cope during these trying times.
LOVE YOU
Never Give Up
Do something fun today!
Joan
For decades parents viewed their role differently. Even today we need to hear this often as a reminder. Thank you, Joan.
Dear Carolyn,
Thank you for writing. It is so good to hear from you. You are right. We don’t always hear this advice from our parents. Your words make me smile!
LOVE YOU
Never Give Up
Joan
“But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. ” 1 timothy 6: 6,7
So thankful for Carl being on the way to recovery!
Dear Carol,
Thank you for writing. It is great to hear from you. Thank you for your scripture quote from Timothy. Thank you and your prayer circle for praying for Carl’s healing! You and the others are a blessing in our lives.
Praising God for His Goodness and Mercy,
Never Give Up
Joan
What an important post to remind people to love and accept ourselves and those we love just as we are. Thank you for sharing your experiences. I’m so glad Carl is doing much better. He’s lucky to have you by his side. Your positivity is helping, I’m sure. Saying prayers for a full, speedy recovery! xoxo
Dear Shawn,
Thank you for writing. I love hearing from you. I’m glad that you think this was an important post to remind each of us to love and accept ourselves and those we love just as we are!
Do something fun today.
Never Give Up
Joan
That’s quite an inspiring article, Joan. Do I have your permission to publish it in our parish newsletter? I am so happy to hear that Carl is doing well. God is truly an awesome God!
Love and blessings always.
Dear Ken,
Thank you very much for writing. It warms my heart that you would like to publish this post in your parish newsletter. I give you permission to use it there. I’d appreciate it if you could put the Joan’s Elder Care Guide image and link in it if possible.
I hope you and your family and parish members are well and safe.
Never Give Up
Joan