Oh MG! (Myasthenia Gravis)

My Mama always said “Once those words are spoken you can never take them back!” This is so true. It is hard to forgive someone that has verbally hurt you. Those feelings just simmer and mull around until it consumes you and steals your joy; at least that is how it can be for me at times. Those people you live with see you at your worst. Currently, mine are seeing me at my worst 24/7 thanks to COVID19! 😑 I have had to apologize more times in the past three weeks than I have in a year. Oh the struggle to be nice when you are mentally on edge.

I don’t know about you but I don’t want to die right now. I want to see my son get married, meet my grandchildren, grow old together with Tal. This tension causes me to be on edge and fly off the handle in a split second. I don’t mean to but I still do it. I feel like this is the same for every American Citizen right now. We are living in fear and I am guilty!

As I scroll through Facebook I also see so many things about people in authority; things good and bad. Our opinions on people and their job performance or how nasty someone is. Now is the time to build people up not tear them down or assist in spreading rumors or lies. I am not one to make political posts. I don’t always agree with the behavior of people in authority but, I cannot imagine the stress each and every person at our nation and state capitals are enduring right now. Someone in authority is having to make decisions about the lives of their family, friends and people they don’t even know. Lives are literally in their hands. Circumstances that have never been seen in my lifetime are thrown at these people right and left. Are they hard decisions? Absolutely! Do they make the right choices? Maybe! maybe not! These people need our prayers and our support. They are making decisions about our lives and we are not there to witness the circumstances and exactly what happens. I don’t trust anything I see on the television anymore. I have to investigate it and pray about it. Satan is hard at work to bend our ways of thinking toward his. Now is the time for Christians to stand outside of the mix.

Two Bible verses come to mind regarding this subject:

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:2‬. Set yourself apart! Stand up for Jesus!

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:6‬. At this time in our lives this is exactly what we need: to be prayerful, thankful and in our Bibles.

God’s word tells us the ending to the story. Whether you believe in Christ Jesus as your Lord & Savior or not, the ending is the same. I encourage you today to tune into a church service, tune into more than one. Fill your heart and mind with the truly good stuff! God’s mercy and grace is sufficient!

Stay safe! Much love ~ Melynda

While most of the time I write in my blog about my battle with Myasthenia Gravis today is going to be different.

Yesterday, the local Christian radio station that I listen to came to visit our “Tiny Town”. I had taken the day off of work and decided I was going to go up there. Little did I know the blessing I was going to receive. This is one of the first “outings” I’ve been on without my mask and since I’ve been off of prednisone. So needless to say my appearance changed. I feel so much better that I can actually participate in things. I received a bunch of hugs and love from people who couldn’t believe how much better I looked. These are people that I KNOW have been praying for me daily. I KNOW these people love me and WE are family. We may look different but WE are Lincoln County!

I was especially moved when I got to see a couple who have been fighting a battle much different from mine. Jamey and Tina Corley are younger than me but I have known Jamey for at least 35 years. He and I grew up in the same small community called Leah, Georgia right across the lake from where we both live now. Jamie and my brother ran the same circles and had the same friends.

I was crushed when he was “given the diagnosis” of esophageal cancer with metastasis to the liver last August. He is so young and so are his children. His wife, Tina, and I keep up on Facebook so I know the hills and valleys they have been through. After his first round of chemo the liver was declared cancer free. Prayer people! God is in the healing business…every single day and this is proof!

Yesterday, I saw Jamey and Tina walking up toward the Welcome Center and I rushed down the porch steps to see them. I became very emotional because I have been praying for him everyday and he looked great! We hugged, I got teary eyed and hugged again. The whole thing was caught on video. Tina was hidden from view on the other side of a tree (of course in her she put it on Facebook with her husband hugging some strange woman! 😂😂). I almost spit out my drink when I saw it and I laughed so hard.

In talking with Jamey I told him I have been praying for him daily and he replied I pray for you every night too. I got to hug Tina even though THAT didn’t get on the video! Jamey couldn’t have found a better wife. She is beautiful, loving and hysterically funny; a precious person all around. She doesn’t know it but her sense of humor has helped me through some bad days. It was a wonderful reunion! I can’t imagine what reunions are going to be like in heaven but, I’m sure they will fill your heart with as much joy as this one.

In our conversation Jamey said something that struck me. He said he has “not claimed this cancer” he completely laid it at Jesus’ feet last August; LAST August! How strong of a person is that? I struggle with things that I give to God and then I take it back and try to fix it. Tina and I chuckled because she said she does the same thing. He is as peaceful as any person I’ve met. I want that too! I pray The Lord will give me that strength to give Myasthenia Gravis to HIM permanently! What a reminder that I needed to hear!

I need you to do something for Jamey and Tina. He has an important scan on Monday. Lift him and Tina up in prayer as they continue to Praise Jesus in the hills and valleys. Jamey said he knows he is going to be cancer free and I fully believe him because I believe in HIM! God is The Great Physician and all we have to do is lay it at His feet and leave it there. Thank you Jamey and Tina for lifting my spirits and reminding me to leave it there! I love y’all!

Thanks for reading and praying! ~Melynda

Thanksgiving day is one of my favorite holidays. Why? The simplicity of it. It is a day we spend with our loved ones gathered around a dinner table eating, talking and in our house laughing. Society has us hustling and bustling to go here, get there, hurry up but, today…we slow down, eat, watch football and enjoy the simple things in life. 

Today I am simply thankful. Thankful for a multitude of things but I’m only going to list a few. Here it goes…

1. A Sovreign God -He never fails me, I ONLY fail Him. 

2. My husband Tal – since June he has shown me the meaning of a faithful husband. 

3.  Kathryn , my daughter that acts like me more than I care to admit. She has successfully accomplished her goals for life and is fixing to embark on starting her own family in January. 

4. Adam, my son. He is the most generous, patient & loving 16 year old you will ever meet. He is always calm under pressure and he is a source of my strength in this battle with my health. I can depend on him regardless. He has no clue what a great human being he really is.  He is going to do great things with his life and I can’t wait to see what. He is also one of the funniest people I know. 

5.  Jaron, whether he likes it or not he is going to be stuck with us come January as our newest but oldest child. He will never in my eyes be considered an in law or an out law. Hahaha! He loves Kathryn like she hung the moon and treats her better than we could ever dream. God bless him come January she will be his! There will be no trading in or giving back -Tal’s words. I hope he knows how much we love him and look forward to many years together as a family. 

6.  My Mama – this woman has driven me to work and picked me up everyday since September. She is taking care of me in her “golden” years when I should be taking care of her. Since my dad’s death we have shared every day together. My mama & I have not always seen eye to eye, we still don’t some days but my goodness we laugh right through it! I hope she knows how much I love her and how thankful I am to have her still around being my Mama. 

7. Marie, technically she is my mother in law but I don’t consider her that, she’s my other mother! She has always treated me like her own. Tal & I are very thankful and truly blessed to have wonderful mothers!

8. Big Mama-she is Marie’s mother, Tal’s grandmother, Kathryn & Adam’s great grandmother. She is also my grandmother too, after 26 years she now has no choice! We love her so much and are so glad she is still around with us. 

9.  My church family – our church is small in number but it is FULL of prayer warriors. These folks have prayed for me and still do daily. They call, bring meals, send cards, help out around my house and love me more than I deserve! Blessed beyond measure is a good way to describe how I feel about them. 

10. My sisters & brothers, nieces & nephews here they are listed – Wyatt, Jenni, Wyatt & Evan and Jody, Dena, Neeley, Cash, Carlin & Russell. Family is family and mine is the best. We may not talk every day but I know they are a call away. On Thanksgiving we all get together at my house and enjoy a meal. Wyatt is my brother, Dena is Tal’s sister – I never dreamed I would be able to have such a wonderful extension to my family.

11. Y-O-U! You are traveling this journey with me through my blog and I am thankful for your time & well wishes! Some of you I may not know personally, that doesn’t matter we can change that! Friendship is a wonderful thing & I am thankful for you!

My prayer is that you simply have a Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy your family & friends you never know what turns life will take and if they will be here next year. Thanks for reading and may God bless you! ~Melynda