Lois
Wyse once said, 'A good friend is a connection
to life - a tie to the past, a road to the future,
the key to sanity in a totally insane world.'
Little
ways of reaching out make all of the difference
to someone who is hurting, especially when the
illness is chronic. It's rarely the "size"
of the task, but the simple fact that you made
an effort and remembered him or her in your
thoughts.
Here
are 50 creative ways to encourage a chronically
ill friend, excerpted from 'Beyond
Casseroles: 505 Ways to Encourage a Chronically
Ill Friend ' by Lisa Copen.
1.
Ask, "What events in your life are changing
and how are you coping with the changes?"
2.
Understand that she lives in a constant state
of making decisions for which there is no guarantee
that she is making the right choice.
3.
Put meals in disposable containers and attach
a note saying "This doesn't need to be
returned."
4.
Add stickers to envelopes for a cheerful touch.
5.
Arrange for your friend's kids to have a night
with your children.
6.
Don't make a person into a project.
7.
Ask, "Would you be willing to talk to a
friend of mine who has recently been diagnosed
with a chronic illness and offer her some encouragement?"
It makes one feel good to know that her experience
can offer someone else hope and that God still
has a purpose for her life.
8.
Wash his car and put a little note inside for
him to find later.
9.
Remember important anniversaries, both the good
and the bad. No one else will.
10.
Ask, "Do you want company the day that
you wait for the test results? I could come
over for a couple of hours."
11.
"No matter how little you have, you can
always give some of it away." ~Catherine
Marshall
12.
Ask her, "How do you feel God is working
through-or despite-this illness in your life?
I'm interested."
13.
Ask, "What do you wish people understood
about your illness?"
14.
Don't make her feel guilty about things that
she cannot do.
15.
Treat her to a gift of movie rentals via postal
mail through a service ($7-15 a month).
16.
Ask, "Would you be comfortable with having
your name on a prayer list, so that others can
pray for you?" Don't assume.
17.
Instead of saying, "I will pray for you,"
say, "I'd like to pray for you right now,
if that's okay."
18.
Mop the floors.
19.
Ask if she would be interested in writing something
for the church newsletter, maybe even about
the subject of living with chronic illness.
20.
Buy a brightly colored umbrella as a gift.
21.
Ask, "Do you have an errand I can run for
you before coming over?"
22.
Ask her to do spontaneous things, like go to
a concert in the park, or just for a picnic.
She may be more likely to participate since
she knows if it's a good day or a bad day.
23.
Don't say, "So, why aren't you healed yet?"
or "I wonder what God is trying to teach
you that you just aren't learning!"
24.
For a unique gift, provide brightly colored
paper plates, napkins, and utensils in a gift
bag with a note that says "For when you
don't feel like doing dishes."
25.
Get her a pretty box to keep all of her notes
of encouragement. Remind her to get it out and
read things when she is feeling down.
>
read more here
=====================================================buy
3 copies for $10 (special buy!) of Beyond
Casseroles, by Lisa Copen, founder of Rest Ministries
and editor of HopeKeepers Magazine. http://www.comfortzonebooks.com
- A wonderful book for pastors, chaplains, nurses
or just anyone who cares for those who are hurting .
