It’s not funny.
Oh I attempted a little humor, but really, it’s not funny.
All the way around it was an epic fail.
On Christmas Eve, I had a tingly itch on my back. When I scratched, my fingernails felt like a hot razor on my skin. Then I felt a linear ridge where two weeks of pain were attributed to an injured rib from an eye-bulging, incessant cough with no identifiable cause which had plagued me for eight weeks. I lifted my shirt and looked in the mirror to see reindeer tracks on my side. See that’s a joke, but since I am obviously terrible at jokes let me explain. As a consequence of taking powerful immunosuppressants to control my disease, I developed shingles.
I thought of a clever play on words (in case you didn’t know I like words) so I posted on my Facebook wall,
My new favorite Christmas song is Shingle bells Shingle bells.
I was trying to be funny and the pain wasn’t too bad
It was a rare December day with phenomenal weather; abundant sunshine, little wind and record-breaking, seventy degree temperatures. I must have gotten the super juice with my last IVIG infusion because myasthenia gravis was behaving quiet nicely too. As an added bonus, my son was home from college. Life was good. So after I posted, I headed to the golf course and managed to play four holes.
Meanwhile replies to my Facebook post blew up. As I read them I envisioned a community wide prayer vigil cranking up.
And I was on the golf course
1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing.” KJV
Apparently my post evoked visions of me writhing in pain, valiantly trying to keep my chin up and encourage others with my, albeit limited, wit. Realizing I mislead people, I attempted to paint a clearer picture, so I posted a silly update,
Well after further testing it appears I was actually run over by a reindeer in my sleep.
I expected all manner of comments about drinking eggnog or vermin in my yard. Nope, people were still praying for me. Honestly, the pain was not intense. Tendonitis in my elbow, migraines and a ruptured disc in my neck caused far greater suffering. Only a few people recognized my flailing effort at hilarity and one suggested Rashing through the Snow, as an alternative to Shingle Bells.
Then it got ugly
It was an ambush. Either someone whacked me in the back with a sledgehammer or the virus viciously invaded my spine. My valor quickly turned to whimpering and suddenly I would have traded shingles for ten migraines. Maybe I deserved it; probably so. Prayers, uh yeah, I desperately needed them now. The curtains closed on my satirical routine. Since I am a lousy comedienne anyway, I suppose I will stick to more serious matters. I should have known years ago when I offered to draw my kids a map to the dishwasher and they told me, “Sarcasm does not become you.”
That’s too bad. Occasionally I like it
Forgive the hint of snarkiness, admittedly my sense of humor is a little warped and my posts aren’t always taken the way I intended. Sometimes I am teasing and taken too seriously. So to set the record straight, I do not have cancer, I do have shingles. The prognosis is good, however my funny bone is terminally ill. Sorry, I’ve got to stop. If it’s any consolation, my golf game was terrible. A foreboding discomfort in my back affected my swing. I guess I probably deserved that too.
Please pray for me
In all seriousness, I truly covet your prayers. I had no idea how much I needed them. Your prayers and encouragement mean the world to me. Please keep praying for me. Pray for my strength. Pray the words of my mouth would be pleasing to the Lord. Pray for world peace and pray for your lost neighbor. But don’t worry about a few red bumps, I’m trying to laugh it off.
Colossians 4:4, “Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.” NIV
Humor me and laugh. Don’t take life, or me, too seriously.
And next time, you play and I’ll pray for you
Deal?
Philippians 1:4, “Always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer.” HCSB
If you have a specific prayer request, email me privately: vickie@vickiepetzhenderson.com. I am dedicating January to pray for you.
Praying for you with joy #Phil1:4 #prayhard Click To Tweet
Personally I like your sense of humor! It’s very much like mine. Often my dry humor flies right past folks. It doesn’t help my folk music shows much either. Sorry about the shingles. Praying. Our humor though can help us face the struggle. It also helps me “hide in plain sight “. I liked the titles of the new songs. You write the lyrics and I’ll write the music. You are better with words than I am. My Christmas festivities were clouded by physical issues as well. I hid that fact and enjoyed my family time as much as I could. The day after Christmas was the family day. ……..6 adults, 2 loud little grandsons and 2 small dogs. And, our house is not that big either. The Lord made it possible for me to enjoy the family time which is all I wanted. We just do our best especially when the medical challenges get nasty. You encourage me to keep going as well. …………☮ph
I once heard you cannot experience two emotions simultaneously. So I choose to be grateful and happy and keeps me going. Like you
Last nite police were called to a home nearby and found a man shot in the leg by his wife, both standing in their kitchen. The officer called in and the Captain on duty asked what had happened? Apparently the lady had just finished moping her kitchen floor and the man came in and walked across it with muddy boots on and she shot him in the leg with a 22 pistol. So the Captain asked if they had her in cuffs and in the squad car? The officer said not yet sir—————I’m waiting on that floor to dry!!!!!!!!
Okay, I’m laughing 🙂
Love this! I sometimes post something I think is funny and people think I’m upset or need life advice.
So true. People are so kind. I had lots of offers to help decorate my house when I posted “It’s not beginning to look like Christmas”
Vickie, will keep you in my prayers shingles are no fun. Hopefully they won’t last to long. Thanks for all your inspirational words they are always a blessing.
Thanks. I think I’m nearly back to normal, whatever that is