Word of Encouragement: Just Say No to the Pity Parties!

9/10/21 12:56 PM

As I have shared in previous Words of Encouragement, I spent time at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago and had to wear a leg brace for four years because of the hip disease I had contracted when I was a kid. While I still ran around, played sports with the other kids, had a morning Chicago Tribune paper route—and of course managed to deliver the paper to my 125 customers during the great Chicago blizzard of 1967—there were those times when I could get a bit discouraged, wished that I could ditch the leg brace, and started to throw myself a little “pity party”.

During those times, my parents refused to join in. I don’t want to imply that they had a “suck it up buttercup” mindset, but they always chose to encourage me and remind me that ultimately if I kept following the doctor’s advice, there would come a day when the brace would no longer be necessary.

Since my mom would also continually point out all of the blessings and other good things going on in my life, I grew up with the hope and expectation that things could and would get better. And that is why I am continually attracted to stories of people who have overcome incredible odds and displayed the fact that with a “never give up” spirit, miracles can and do happen.

For example, I loved this article about Brittney Bedwell of Monroe, Indiana—a literal “walking miracle”. Brittney was left paralyzed from her waist down after she was severely injured in an ATV accident four years ago. Things looked bleak as she was hospitalized for months, had multiple surgeries and had to battle a severe infection.

Brittney’s doctors cautioned her not to get her hopes up. “A doctor told me that I was never going to walk again, and I didn’t want to believe that, and I did for a while and I had depression and anxiety, but once I got over that, I just woke up one day and I just like, started feeling some stuff in my legs and I knew that it wasn’t over,” Brittney said.

So what did Brittney do? She began a grueling physical therapy program and fought hard to regain movement in her legs. Fortunately, Brittney wasn’t alone. Her family and her boyfriend, Glen Hitchcock, stood by her side.

brittney-wedding-videohttps://www.inspiremore.com/brittney-bedwell-walks-down-aisle/When Glen ultimately proposed to her in her hospital room, Brittney committed herself to being able to walk down the aisle on her wedding day. “It was really important to me, because I got to watch my sisters walk down the aisle with [our dad], and I knew I wanted to do that, so I had to push myself even harder.” she explained. And you have to watch this video that shows that on July 10, Brittney’s dream became a reality.

I’ve been very fortunate to meet people like Brittney, people who have fought incredible odds to achieve things that were thought to be impossible. Whether it’s people that have beaten back cancer or other dire health prognostications, surmounted incredible obstacles, or just plain old “gutted it out” when others might have thrown in the towel, they are walking examples of the Divine power that lies within each and every one of us. Like my mom believed: Things could and would get better if we have hope, a commitment do the work, and never give up!

As we head into this weekend and the twentieth anniversary of 9/11, we need to be truthful and acknowledge that the media has done a good job of pointing out why the month of August was a tough month for America. I know they have a job to do, but I think we’d all be better if they’d follow my mom’s example and periodically offer some hope and a belief that things can and will be better.

Instead of waiting for that day to occur, may we suggest that if you get an invitation to attend your own, or somebody else’s “Pity Party,” be like my parents and send a “Regrets, cannot attend note!”

With a world that is full of people like Brittney and others we have highlighted over the past 18 months, let’s focus on the words from Romans: “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer.”

Have a great weekend,
Mike