Receiving a diagnosis of Lyme Disease was overwhelming in and of itself. Never mind the huge list of supplements, remedies, change in diet and detoxing needed to attack this debilitating monster. Add to that, recovering from foot surgery, moving to one of the most regulated states for homeschooling, and taking care of a large family—it was downright daunting! On top of that, I was dealing with other ongoing health challenges that needed to be addressed and resolved.

I felt so inadequate for the road ahead. Brain fog made me sometimes forget the right words to say, or caused me to lose my thoughts altogether. For a period of time, my legs and arms felt like dead-weights and the pain was so excruciating, that it took me hours just to get out of bed. During that school year, we had to hire someone to tutor our kids. I remember crying out to God, asking him to just take me. Until I thought of my children without a mom and that gave me a renewed desire to conquer these difficulties. I determined that I WOULD GET WELL.

With the direction of a very knowledgeable nutritionist, I started heading in the right direction. This would prove to be an ongoing journey with many ups and downs. Over the years, I have sought out various practitioners and health remedies to help stabilize my health.

How could I homeschool and care for our family when my health was so unpredictable? Here are some things that I have discovered make a difference:

1.. Decide to be thankful even in the middle of the struggle

2. Start and end each day with prayer, and all day long …… PRAY!

3. Acknowledge the struggles and pain and take steps to improve your health, but then refocus your thoughts on things that are ” true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable.” (see Philippians 4:8)

4. Keep a journal to help you remember how God brought you through past trials. This can encourage you to take the next step.

5. Do your best and let go of false guilt. Accept that some days or even some seasons of life will be more challenging than others. Even if your health condition remains the same, the principles still apply.

6. Make use of educational games, DVD’s, online classes, audiobooks, music, art, storytelling, role-playing and books or workbooks that the kids can do on their own or with an older sibling, your spouse or a babysitter, especially on days when you feel extreme fatigue or pain.

7. Teach your children to pitch in with age appropriate chores including cooking, cleaning, laundry, yard work, etc. These life-skills are invaluable!

8. Let go of unrealistic expectations for yourself and your family. This may mean a less tidy home, ordering pizza for dinner or not accomplishing every item on your to-do list. Put whatever energy you do have into what really matters. Faith, Hope and Love are more important than a clean sink or folded laundry.

9. Learn to take care of yourself so that you can take care of your family. It is not selfish to eat properly, exercise, rest, invest time in friends or a hobby. Seek wise counsel to help you thrive. When you are refreshed, you will be better prepared to do your job as a mom.

10. Always rely on God and acknowledge that He is the one sustaining you. After experiencing difficulties breathing with 911 calls and trips to the ER, I have come to realize that literally every breath is a gift from my Heavenly Father and should not be taken for granted.

Living with chronic illness might feel like a curse, but it can be viewed as a cure for what ails our spiritual lives. Through it, God can teach us many life lessons, encourage us, build up our faith, help us to have a deeper dependency on Him and give us a more eternal outlook on life.