THE EMOTIONAL ASPECT (continued)

That aside, my emotional journey with MND/ALS has been the predictable mix of shock, sadness and frustration. But I can honestly say that I have experienced very little anger or fear. Some might say that I’m in denial, but I don’t think so. I’m well aware of what the prognosis is for a person with this disease. I’ve never asked the question, “Why me?” I’ve never been angry at God for allowing this to happen to me. I know that God is trustworthy and good. So the fact that I’ve been diagnosed with this disease means that there is a plan in His mind of how to work this for my good as well as for the good of many others. Not exactly something to be angry about!

Initially, I admit that I was a bit fearful of the unknown challenges that lay ahead, but that has mostly passed now. We’ve been continuous recipients of God’s comfort and provision, both supernaturally and through His people, so we know He is with us. And I am more aware of His presence than ever before. So how can I be afraid?

If you ask me what emotion I’m feeling most, my answer would be, “Hope: the joyful expectation of future good.”

THE EMOTIONAL ASPECT

I mentioned in a previous post that there are four aspects of this disease (physical, spiritual, emotional, relational). The spiritual is by far the most important in that it impacts all the others, and the physical aspect is the most in-your-face of the four. The emotional aspect, however, has the most to do with how one copes with one’s circumstances. A person can be physically weak but can cope if he or she remains emotionally strong. But even the most physically strong person can become incapacitated by his or her emotions.

This area is the most difficult for me to write about because I’ve always been quite a low reactor. In fact, it’s quite ironic that one of the symptoms of this disease can be an effect on a certain area of the brain which results in uncontrollable, and often inappropriate, crying and/or laughter. So yes, I now cry a lot more than I used to in movies!