Just sharing. Although this is long, please, please take time to read it. It is WORTH IT.

Looking at people around me I have learnt to appreciate life and its hurdles. While things are sometimes bad we should remember that they can be worse. I have learnt to praise God in every situation of my life, the worst days of my life and the best days of my life. God has never left me, not even one single day. He held my hand throughout my life, he protects me and he LOVES me. In my happiest days, he multiplied my joys and he just added more to what I have. In my worst days he just turned up and be there, I will talk to him all day and night and he never told me he was tired, he has been such a pillar of strength in my life. He lessens my pain, he nurtures my soul, and he adds light to my darkest days. All I do is just call on him and he will be there he never told me that he was busy. Although my fresh sometimes gets in the way and I feel like he is not there, it is so not true. God never leaves our side. In our troubled days we might feel like he has deserted us and he does not love us anymore that is not true. The bible says even Jesus his only son had to endure pain but he just trusted in his father so should we.

There are five people that I have came across in life that taught me that life still goes on even when the worst things in life happens. Three are family friends; one is a cousin and the other one a sister in law. Four of these people were born with chronic conditions. Two had to fight diabetes all their lives, two are living with epilepsy and the fifth person lost all the people in her life at different times but within a period of 8 years. She lost her mother, her father and her only brother. Later on she got married to a wonderful husband of whom they were blessed with one son. I was so happy to hear that she finally got a family of her own. Later on the son passed away, and after that the husband. Who would think that anyone would survive such trauma? This woman is still standing strong and she is one of the most exciting person to be around. She sums up her life in one sentenceâ God has blessed me with special people in my life and he has taken all of them away, I am thankful for the time I have spent with them, God has unique plans for everyone , I continue to thank him and praise him everyday for the wonderful blessings in my lifeâ. Every single time I meet this woman I go home and count my blessing and cry because in spite of what she has gone through in life she still praises God for all her blessings. She is in her mid forties now and cannot bear children anymore. But she says she is living the life that God has planned for her and she is amazingly happy and inspires many people. She is a remarkable woman.
The other two that lived with diabetes are family friends. Amazing, amazing people. The first thing I ever noticed about them is their smile and their laughter. They all battled with diabetes in early teenage years. At first they were booked off from school because they would be hospitalized constantly due to diabetes. Till at one point they just dropped out of school because diabetes was taking over their lives. They were always in and out of the hospital. In their hospital beds they managed to keep a smile on their faces, I donât know how. But I believe that to be a firm believer in God will help us a lot. I am thinking they just believed God had their lives in their hands. I remember one said to me: âI am the special one, I am not like any other person, she said jokingly.â Although these people spent their life in the hospital most of the times, and never really got to enjoy life like most people, like going to varsity, buying your first cars etc. They lived such a peaceful life, although their bodies were in pain, I believe their souls were at peace. That is how I have known them peaceful people .Although they are not here anymore they lived to teach a lesson, that no matter how bad life might seem: we should keep on keeping on and live our life, do what we can do even though we have limits. They both died in their early 30s due to diabetes.

The other two have epilepsy since they were teenager. They are now in their early 20s one is my cousin and other one is my sister in law. They also just dropped out of high school and never made it to university because their seizures became more frequent. My sister in law was such a bright student. She is the one who encourages people when they are going through tough times and is great person to be around. The first time you see her you will not even think she is dealing with such a difficult condition. My sister in law and my cousin are still living and they continue to inspire.

What made me write all these???This is because I am also living with a chronic condition Lympedema. Lympedema is a condition that causes certain parts of the body to swell due to fluid retention because the lymphatic system is not functioning properly. I have lived with primary lympedema of both feet and legs since I was 16 years of age (my doctor said may be I inherited it). Now I am 28 years of age. Lympedema had a huge impact on my life. I graduated with my first degree with a Bachelor of a Science (Chemistry and Biology) .I then worked as a Chemist for 4 years, then I realized my feet could not carry me any more because as a Chemist you have to stand for long hours In the lab and my feet and legs will balloon up and the pain was unbearable. I had to give up a career that I loved so much and was good at. At the age of 26 I enrolled for a degree in Information Technology. I am now doing my final year. I am not really passionate about what I do, I just have to do it because I had to come back and do a degree that will keep me seated in office so that I can put my feet up , of all the choices I have Computers seemed to be the closest choice I could make. My dream was to become a doctor, Pharmacist or a Chemist but I have made peace with it, I have a limitation.
I am sharing my story with you and the story of the other five people because when I was diagnosed with lympedema, I felt like my whole life has ended, change of career, broken heart because of my condition, I cannot dress up like any other young person because my feet and legs are swollen, so I have to hide my legs and it Is hard for me to find the right size of shoes, it affected my self-confidence because I do not feel good enough about myself. And of course there is no medication or cure for this condition although there is manual lymph drainage and stocking that helps with the swelling it does not take the swelling away nor the pain, but it helps. I live in a country that is hot almost the whole year and that makes the swelling more. The condition has limitations. Most women who want to start a family experienced problems when they fall pregnant because the swelling worsens during pregnancy and sometimes persistent afterwards. Although there are a few success stories of women who successfully had babies with this condition, one is still scared of falling pregnant and even hard to find a partner who understands. At first I was so bitter, angry and used to burry myself in self pity. Because of my lost dreams, broken heart, the pain, the low âself confidence and many more. But if I look at those people I have mentioned above they have it worse but they have made peace with their conditions. I learnt a lesson from them.

Today as I take a look at my life, I did not look at lympedema. I looked at my life counting my blessings and I have a lot of them (we all do). I did not look at my lost dreams but I am thanking God that he has still given me an opportunity to do my second degree. Today I am not going to look at lympedema but I am thanking God for the wonderful people in my life who gives me support, my parents, my sisters and friends. Today I look at life and I just praise God for what he has done for me. Today I am looking at the brighter side of life and appreciating all the small treasures in life. Today I thank God for all the wonderful people on daily strength who have been supportive. Today I look at my life and I just see a lot of blessings. I am so thankful for all I have, I am thankful for who I am. This condition will not stop me from living my life; this condition will not stop me from smiling. God has unique plans for everyone. I will say it like my family friend. âI am the special one, I have lympedema and through it all I shall live, through it all I shall teach and through it all I shall SMILE for God has me in his MIGTY hands :-)

If I look at my life, I go back to my childhood. I had such a perfect childhood. Only happy memories :-).Every time life gets a bit tough I just look back and say GOD is great most people never had a chance to even enjoy their childhood they have known pain since they were very young.

Today I would like to encourage you. Whatever your situation is do not stop living. In trials and tribulations we shall live for GOD has us in his hands:-).

I hope the story of the five people I have came across in life has inspired you. When we listen to what others go through we learn a lot and draw strength from their stories.