The Beautiful Truth

“God designed my disability not to make me ‘independent,’ but ‘interdependent.’”

- Joni Eareckson Tada

My life with dysautonomia places a burden on my husband, children, family, and friends. I'm not sure if I will ever completely get used to that. It is hard to be a burden. It is hard to see others have to sacrifice so much in order to care for me. It is especially hard to see the daily burden that my illness places on Will, William, and Adelaide.

And yet, at least for now, this is the way it is meant to be. God has designed me to need a lot of help from others. He has provided me with a husband and children to help me daily. He has provided others to help me occasionally. And God has given my family and friends the opportunity to serve Him by serving me.

I am learning the beautiful truth of being a burden. It is hard. It is a lesson I wish I didn’t have to learn. But this is the life God has given me for my good and His glory, and I thank Him for it. I am learning to accept being a burden and to pray for strength for those who help me.

I greatly appreciated this article by Joni Eareckson Tada: The Beautiful Truth About Being a Burden. If you are caring for a loved one, or if you are the one who is being cared for, Joni’s words will help and encourage you today.