Heart illness our healing philosophy

HEART ILLNESS: OUR HEALING PHILOSOPHY

1. We did not deserve this illness, but it happened.
2. Now that this illness has happened, there is some added pain in our life. We need to find a purpose in the pain of rehabilitation. Otherwise, our pain will simply feel like pointless suffering. Our pain can either make us bitter and envious of others or lead us to become more sensitive and compassionate. What we do in reaction to this illness will make the pain of rehabilitation either meaningful or empty and destructive to us an individuals and as a family.
3. As we struggle through this together, we need to allow each other and ourselves to be angry at the situation and try not to be angry at ourselves, at each other, or at our God. We need to remember that
   Getting angry at ourselves makes us depressed. Being angry at other people scares them away and makes it harder for them to help us. Being angry at God erects a barrier between us and all the sustaining, comforting resources of religion that are there to help us. . . . But being angry at the situation, recognizing it as something rotten, unfair, and totally undeserved—shouting about it, denouncing it, crying over it—permits us to discharge the anger which is a part of being hurt, without making it harder for us to be helped.
4. We will try to encourage each other to pray for strength, determination, and willpower to cope, and for the grace to remember what we still have instead of suffering over what we have lost.
5. We will try to live full lives until we die. We will try to show each other how to live and love despite our struggles. We will try to let this illness help heal our lives.
6. The question we still ask ourselves is not, "Why did this illness happen to us?" Rather, we will ask, "Now that this illness has happened, what can I do to cope, and who is available to help me?"
7. We need each other as allies in this journey. I am happy that you are here with me now.

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