The Mentally Ill

The most forgotten...those whose suffering knows no end....the mentally ill. ...When was the last time you sat and had patience with a close friend or family member that you know suffers greatly from mental illness?...Every one of us has someone in our circle who we know is in this category.  Most just ignore them, gossip about them, stay away, make believe they don't need us or step over them whenever we run into them like the plague.  Some consider 'running into them' their yearly visit.  Somehow appeases their consciences this way.

The mentally ill are in our lives for our growth and are here to stay....OUR growth...How afraid we are to remove our judgments and learn to sit and listen....visit and talk....love and find a place where we can meet on a common ground..accepting them just the way they are.....Today psychologists, therapists are needed more and more way beyond in years past whenever the Body of Christ fails. You see, there is a place for a therapist with tools, great knowledge and experience in helping people deal with mental issues, but all too often, a person just yearns a sounding board...a place to talk things out ..... In our world that is so selfish, too busy thinking we are pleasing God while stepping over Him in Disguise in These "Least of These" (Mt 25:31-46), embarrassed by them, ashamed of them, have all our own agendas for them...Therapists would have their place, but would not be so needed if we knew how to love others thru....really just love unconditionally...like God loves.

One can't love like God until one first experiences that love and strengthens the God Relationship.  We have to first love God and then ourselves before we can ever just Love another for no reason other than Love!  We never know the suffering one has when their head hits the pillow at night.  We take for granted our delicious rest and assume everyone else has that gift of sleep.

i advocate for the mentally ill.  Stop blaming someone for their illnesses or trying to pin blame when in fact, just like alcoholism, mental illness is just that, a disease that needs proper medical attention. The person did not choose it, they have no control over it and it doesn't just magically disappear. Stop thinking you have all the answers for this person, for if you are not them and do not suffer their sickness, you know NOTHING and if you are not God, you do not know what will help them, God does.  No matter how 'good' an advocate or family member gets at identifying symptoms, understanding the illness, if you are not the one suffering, you still know NOTHING.

God asks us to touch people one person at a time.  You may have great opportunities to reach millions, but if you miss caring and reaching for the 'Least of These' in your circle, you have failed in life....failed.  So let's go deep...asking God to reveal these suffering souls in our circles and what is our responsibility toward them.  When we get the answer, let's have the courage to do it!  "Do whatever He tells you!"...(This comes from The Wedding in Cana Story from the Bible...read it:
http://www.usccb.org/bible/john/2 )

There is a song whose chorus says:

"Do whatever He tells you, He'll turn your water into wine 2X
 He'll turn your water into wine 2X
HEAR AND OBEY EVERY WORD HE WILL SAY, HE KNOWS WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT!"

There is a movie, "A Beautiful Mind" that really depicted well mental illness and the beauty, sorrows and pains it brings to both the ill and the family.  i recommend you find it an watch it .  it will open your heart up  and clear away all preconceived notions you have on the topic and those who suffer . https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Beautiful_Mind_(film)

To those suffering i say:

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.  You are the finest of God and your mind, and make up challenge all of us to be better versions of ourselves  Keep fighting, never give up, know you are loved, know you are precious and prayed for and please forgive us all for we lack so much of what you have, forgive us for not being able to love and support you as you need.

To family members/friends:

It is not your fault.  You did not bring on their illness.  And no matter how good you try to get in helping them, you will never be perfect in identifying, responding to the signals.  It is foreign  to anyone who does not live with the disease no matter how professional or schooled or patient or learned we become.

til next time....let's find the 'Least' among us and reach for them remembering the Last Judgment Mt. 25:31-46