Reason for the Season

[Archives1]

Hello everyone,

Just want to formally wish everyone a Merry Christmas and/or Holidays to anyone who isnt spiritual but still welcomes a greating during these cold winter months.

Well Christmas for me was calm and collective focusing on the spiritual side of things. For anybody that is religious or chooses to believe - i have a symbolic story of how faith has helped me on this journey.

The past couple of weeks my faith has been tried so hard. Trials from what i hear create the biggest testimony - and this past evening i was planning on having a nice dinner with someone who has been in my life, that i care about, and is going through a rough patch; however things fell through this evening but my plans with our local missionaries came through and i had a wonderful meal with them and focused on looking above.

Well, if any of you guys know myself and my story - i once shared a story about when i was 9-10 years old and my dad and step mother threatened to take me to the local grocery store and walk around the block in a diaper as a scare tactic to stop my accidents from happening as a child. Due to the strained relationship i have with my family and the stress of the holidays in general and the bad bouts of bladder spams; my Overactive bladder has been worsened by the stress.

I just unfortunately cannot stop going to the bathroom. It causes me great pain and embarassment; and its something i keep hidden for the most part from family and friends on the severity of how it is affecting myself mentally and physically.

But today; instead of staying home, alone, cooped up in bed - i decided to wear protection, go walk the streets and focus on the reason for the season.

Sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.

We were halfway through our "mission" of the night - and it occured that we were on the street of my old childhood home.

I realized somethings tonight while laying in bed before i drift off to sleep. I can do the things with people that i know during days where i loss of bladder control. Normally i always put myself in situations where a bathroom is always nearby or i am alone.

But tonight, i put myself in a situation where i had to wear protection because of the fear of having an accident. And i did unfortunately.

But i took one of my many humiliating memories - and i walked around the block; but i did so with my dignity.

And nobody knew but God himself on the pain of the spasms and leakage i experienced today - and because He held me up -

I chose to hold Him up. If thats not a testimony of faith of struggling to cope with bladder issues; i dont know what is.

Take care,
HC

 

[Archives1]

God bless you and keep you safe.

 

[Archives1]

Amen, A great share and witnessing to the power of faith. Peace be with you.

 

[Archives1]

thanks for sharing, and merry christmas.

 

[Archives1]

You are definitely going to be just fine, my friend. I have no doubt about that. It's good you returned to the scene of your early childhood and looked those memories right in the eye and said "I am above that now!"
You have taken good positive steps to manage the bladder issues and you are proving to yourself that you can live your life as it was meant to be lived.
It's just so easy to just stay at home and feel sorry for yourself instead of confronting those fears and rising above all that!
You have done a remarkable job with rehabilitating yourself and all of that comes from within you. Plus the faith you are showing helps even more!
Good going and enjoy your holidays and I know the new year will bring about a new you, which is the best present you're giving to yourself!

 

[Archives1]

God bless you! Thank you for your inspiring story.

 

[Archives1]

Powerful testimony to the strength you seek

 

[Archives1]

Thank you.for sharing both your faith and your journey. Praying for you.

 

[Archives1]

Thank you all for your prayers and thanks for my testimonial.

I had alot of help from our local missionaries. They came over at around 4:45 and helped cook dinner. We chatted over the faith and I talked to them about my inward struggles with family issues and not being able to be invited over to the Holidays by my dad's side.

We ate dinner while we talked. The missionary whom had a nose bleed (get to that later) phone was unfortunately low so we could not have him use his phone but we used the others phone to watch a Light of Christ video and asked if I could join them sharing the Good News after dinner by knocking door to door.

I felt the missionary with the nose bleed seemed upset that I went to use the bathroom multiple times during the course of dinner. I was so embarrassed though because my spasms cause me to use the bathroom alot . But as we were making our way to the door; he used the facilities and came out with a nosebleed.

So we waited. He sneezed but funnily enough it didn't affect the nosebleed. We waited a few more minutes until he called me to the bathroom and showed a couple drops of blood and said "That's alot of blood" but because of how intensely little the amount was we all kinda just blurted out laughing. It was a funny moment. If only it was recorded...

So they both got ready, and I used the restroom one final time to get myself ready privately so that no one would be the wiser I was experiencing LOBC and we went on our way to share the good news.

After, they left they wished me a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and I thought that was funny cause I was going to see them the following day. So I posted my testimonial here prior to church the following morning.

I went to church as usual and was greeted and was asked to pass the sacrament. That was an honor because you get to sit in front of the church (away from the congregation) and it was announced that the service would only be a one hour service instead of a typical two hour. It was definetly an interesting day for sure. Apparently I did a great job!

The one good thing I can say about my bladder issues; is that I always am professional about handling my continence problems. Sometimes I feel like I'm an inconvenience for always having to step out of the room to use the facilities.

But the fact of the matter is; is that I'm embarrassed. Humiliated. And I fear judgment because of it.

Thank you all for your continued support. it means alot.

 

[Archives1]

You have a medical problem it is NOTHING to be ashamed of an more than the nosebleed the missionary had (but handled less privately)
By using the rest room and keeping your medical issue of spasms and incontinence private you acted with grace and dignity.
You do not owe anyone an explanation for excusing yourself to handle this privately.

 

[Archives1]

Thank you MayMay!

God Bless You ❤

 

[Archives1]

Hi @Honeeecombs. Now please don't fear any judgment because of your medical issue! That's just what it is, it's completely medical-related and it's a part of you but it does not in any way shape, form, or fashion define you!!!
Show me someone who does NOT have a medical or some sort of physical issue and I'll show you someone who really doesn't exist.
The incontinence is only a very tiny part of you but with all you've got going for you, it's something that doesn't matter to any of the average people you may meet along the way, wherever you go and whatever you do.
If I were you and were concerned about going to the bathroom during dinner or a church service, select the most discreet diaper that you can find and wear it and let nature run its course.
Please don't be embarrassed by what you need to wear. To me it shows that you are handling your situation in the way you need to do it. If no one understands that, then the onus is on them, not on you!
I agree 1000 percent with @Maymay941 that you do not owe anyone (especially a casual stranger) any explanation for quietly getting up to go and handling the situation as you see fit.
And I also agree that you handled it with a lot of grace and dignity.