Change Is Difficult

Have you ever noticed how difficult change can be? Sometimes it’s not the complexity of the tasks involved in the change, but rather just the fact that you have to break your normal routine.

As you know, we’ve recently moved to Missouri. Besides the hassle of selling our home in Louisiana, moving all our possessions, finding and buying a home in Missouri, and getting all our possessions delivered to the new address, there are all sorts of address changes that must take place.

Changing an address isn’t normally that difficult, but I’m quickly learning that changing states involves changes to some Medicare coverages and supplemental plans. Apparently, some of the plans offered are specific for each state.

Then there’s changing doctors. On Tuesday, July 14th, I received a referral and made an appointment with a new neurologist. His next available appointment is April 13, 2027. Yep, you have that right…it’s 9 months out. If I run into any significant problems between now and then, I will need to go to the ER or Urgent Care.

You never think about these issues when moving sounds like a fun idea.

I’m sure Myasthenia Gravis was a big change in your life. Before being diagnosed, I’m sure you suffered numerous symptoms and didn’t know what was causing them. You probably went to your family doctor who started you down the path with several other doctors and specialists. It probably took months or even years before you finally received a diagnosis of MG.

Over time, you’ve had to make some changes to your lifestyle. Religiously having to adhere to a medication schedule was probably a major one. I have to take Mestinon every three hours, so my little pill bottle is always handy. You may have had to reduce or limit some activities you used to enjoy. As you found yourself becoming quickly fatigued, you learned endurance is difficult to come by with MG. You may have even added an afternoon nap to your daily schedule just to make it completely through the day.

Change is difficult. It isn’t insurmountable. I’ve found that keeping a positive outlook and maintaining a good attitude is key to getting through change. If you look at each challenge as an adventure, it takes the dread away.

With all that said, there are times when change gets to me. That’s when I turn to God. Sometimes I can’t handle it on my own, but God can handle anything. Things may not always work out on my timetable or in the way I perceived they would, but I’ve learned God’s way is always better.

When I get over-whelmed, I often recite the Serenity Prayer:

“Lord, give me the serenity to accept the things i cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Amen.”

By saying this short little prayer, I’m asking God to guide me, not just take over, but to give me the strength to try and to grant me peace when things are beyond my ability as I wait patiently for His protection and guidance.

When you need encouragement, strength, guidance, or help, turn to God. He always has our hand.