Life is hard. Kindness, courage, and love will help you prosper.
Author: Melissa
Hello, my name is Melissa. I grew up as a pastor's kid and am now a pastor's wife. I'm married to Joseph Smith, who is the Pastor of Pine Air Baptist Church in Grand Bay, AL. We have three miracle children here on earth and two in heaven.
As of July 18, 2017, God graciously allowed me to survive being struck by lightning. Five years later on March 31, 2022, I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer HER2+ and HER2-. Today, I can say, together with God's help, I am an OVERCOMER!
Because He lives and His mercies renew every morning, I can say I am a Lightning Survivor, Cancer Warrior, and Daughter of the King!
1.14p Woke with pain all over. Rt hip area hurts. Low back hurts. Head hurts. Hands and forearms swollen especially rt arm & achy. Toes tingly. Stuffy & congested.
Received ltr from SSA stating that I’m not eligible because I said I didn’t want to apply. That’s false! I have an appointment on July 23rd to apply. Craziness. I have call into atty. Trouble with constipation.
6:06 – my nerves are screaming
pain!!! My chest hurts so bad! If only I could get the inflamation to
subside, then I could get a little relief so I could rest.
Husband is tired of it. I don’t know what to do. My heart is wounded.
That moment when you just get done refilling your fabric softner container and you accidentally pop a hole in the corner putting it on the shelf and it spills everywhere! And flexseal tape won’t fix it. Ugh! Thankful for mason jars.
July 17, 2018
6:26a -Eyes are heavy & blurry. Low back & tailbone throbbing. Rt ear aches. Hands swollen and tingly. Feet achy & tingly. Lower legs ache. Head hurts.
8:06a – chilling
burning sensation in middle of back, feet are freezing
10:00a – just cleaned
my bathroom 1st time since injury…not able to do thorough clean. Hands &
forearms throbbing, I’m exhausted & ready to pass out, brain foggy, eyes
blurry, slight headache…taking nap now
2:00p – after turning
radio off, I fell against corner of tv stand. Now I have a huge bruise on rt
thigh. Ouch!!
3:00p -made cookies,
but had to have help stirring batter because it hurt my chest too much.
Frustrating!
8:00p – upper back
muscles on fire
10:48p -neck hurts, center of chest is throbbing, center of back hurts, feet freezing, hands achy & swollen. I’m wide awake!
11:45 – not sure why,
but my upper body is shaking like a tremor
2:47p Very rough night. Woke up in severe pain! Tailbone throbbing and I feel like I was beat up. Stomach hurts.
11:00p – Bp 160/102 hr 71
I accidentally took the wrong meds
last night so I didn’t take the Clonidine.
I have a headache. My tailbone throbs. Feet hurt. Rt elbow aches. Rt ear hurts. Center of chest hurts.
Psalm 145:18-19
The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon
him,
to all that call upon him in truth.
He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him:
he also will hear their cry, and will save them.
July 15, 2018
11:21a Woke up hurting all over. My headache is worse. Took pain rx. Hands ache& swollen. Feet & lower legs cramping. Brain feels foggy today.
3:15 – laid down to rest a bit. Hand and arms tingly. Rt hip area aches.
6:35 – feet numb & tingly, lower
back & legs ache, headache, stuffy nose, utterly exhausted
10:30a – fell asleep on chair while
sitting down to rest a moment
7:30p – walking down hallway
suddenly felt sharp stabbing pain in rt calf made it dfifficult to walk.
10:00p – center of chest popped now
it’s hurting bad enough for pain rx
Having trouble with my peripheral
vision. I keep bumping into things that I think I’m gonna miss.
Ephesians
5:20
Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ;
Giving thanks “always” and “for all
things” isn’t always easy to do especially when you’re in the midst of
hardship or trial. You can thank God not for the problems, but for His strength
that He is perfecting through you to get through the difficult situations. Take
heart in knowing that God’s love will see you through, and that He is with you
always.
July 11, 2018
1:30 woke up freezing
3:30 woke again freezing &rt hip
hurting
5:30 woke again freezing, put extra
blanket on me, rt hip still hurts. Tried stretching to ease but still hurts.
7:30 chest keeps popping when I move
certain ways, makes chest hurt.
6:20 rt hand & arm swollen and
aches, low back hurts, feet hurt, tired
11:38 lower back throbbing, knees
and lower lft leg throbbing, rt hand swollem and hurts
2
Corinthians 4:7-9
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power
may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not
distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken;
cast down, but not destroyed;
Many times when we face trials and tribulations, we tend to get discouraged and feel defeated, but we can never loose our hope in the Lord for He is always there. Occasionally, we need to remind ourselves that Christ has the victory over death, and we have eternal life. All of our struggles are opportunities that we can use to show God working through us. One day all of life’s struggles will be worth it all!
July 12, 2018
7:50 – Joe wakes me up to let me
know he has to go to work. I was suppose to take paperwork to atty. Ugh!
8:00 – rt hand & wrist swollen
& achy. Rt elbow hurts to move it. Low back hurts. Eyes a bit blurry.
4:00 – tried to clean up a little in
SS bldg. It about killed my back in less than 10 minutes. Had to stop as I was
about in tears because of the pain!!!
Deuteronomy 31:8
And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee;
he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not,
neither be dismayed.
“But the fruit of the
Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23
The world all around us is full of trouble and turmoil. There are wars and rumors of wars, nations rising against nations, great earthquakes in various places, famines, infectious outbreaks, persecutions, etc. God states these things must come to pass for His Word to be fulfilled (Matthew 24:3-31; Mark 13:5-27; Luke 21:8-33).
Christians are not excluded from trouble, turmoil, and
calamities living in a sin filled world.
There is strife among countries, corporations, nations, churches,
families, and even in the pews.
What is PEACE??
How does one attain PEACE in the midst of all these
commotions?
Webster defines peace as “a state of tranquility or quiet”. Peace is a tranquility of mind which frees one from worry or fear. Peace is an untroubled heart that comes from trusting God.
Peace does not come naturally, and as humans we tend to fail at times, but God commands us to pursue peace. Psalm 34:14 “…seek peace, and pursue it.”
The best way to seek Peace is to:
Keep an attitude of prayer.
Be
careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God,
which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through
Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
Read your Bible daily.
Great
peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. Psalm 119:165
Submit your heart to God regularly.
And
let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in
one body; and be ye thankful. Colossians
3:15
Meditate on God’s Word faithfully
Thou
wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he
trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting
strength: Isaiah 26:3-4
Keep living right
Dr. Bob Jones, Sr once said, “Do Right ‘til
the stars fall.” Nothing destroys peace
faster than when we have sin in our hearts before and Almighty God.
Mark
the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace. Psalm 37:37
We can only impart the evidence of the fruits of the Holy
Spirit working in and through our lives when we allow Him to work freely in our
hearts and lives.
The best way to seek Peace is to:
Keep an attitude of prayer.
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
Read your Bible daily.
Great
peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. Psalm 119:165
Submit your heart to God regularly.
And
let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in
one body; and be ye thankful. Colossians
3:15
Meditate on God’s Word faithfully
Thou
wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he
trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting
strength: Isaiah 26:3-4
Keep living right
Dr. Bob Jones, Sr once said, “Do Right ‘til the stars fall.” Nothing destroys peace faster than when we have sin in our hearts before an Almighty God.
Mark
the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace. Psalm 37:37
We can only impart the evidence of the fruits of the Holy Spirit working in and through our lives when we allow Him to work freely in our hearts and lives.
7:00a – sharp stabbing pain still.
Can hardly move. Pain to tears level 10! Took Naproxen 500mg. Had to lay still
for 2 hours til pain started easing up.
10:43 so much pain
!!!Costocondritisos starting to flair up again. Just have
Hebrews
4:16
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain
mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Thankful that God has the knowledge and power to meet any need in our lives.
July 8, 2018
3:30 woke up due to cramping/muscle
spams in both calves & use restroom
5:30 woke up due to cramping &
pain in lower back. Couldn’t fall back to sleep
7:21 – cramping in calves have not
eased. Pain at 5/6. Hands swollen & achy.
10:45 – leg muscles twitching
July 9, 2018
7.25a Woke with feet and hands
tingling. Calves in both legs cramping. Low back aches. Neck hurts.
5:25 – stinging needle pain in upper back. Tired. Rt arm & hand throbbing.
Woke at 4am with my
legs from knees down cramping and throbbing.Hands swollen and achy.Slight
headache.Right side just above hip aches.
July 5, 2018
Woke with a
headache.Legs from knees down cramping and throbbing. Lower back aches. Rt side
cramps when I turn. Thighs feel like they’re burning. Exhausted, but can’t
sleep.
Hand swollen and
tingly
Hebrews 10:35-36
Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye
might receive the promise.
Some
days no matter what you do it just seems like nothing goes your way. It’s in
those times that you need to look to God for your strength to persevere. Don’t
give up! Your blessings are just around the corner.
Lord, please help me to keep moving forward no matter how hard
the path ahead may seem. Help me to trust you to lead me in the path that we
should go.
July 6, 2018
11.08a Didn’t sleep well. Kept waking up due to cramping in my legs. Woke up to calf mjuscles cramping in both legs. Pain level is 5/6.
Slight headache. Hands and wrists swollen. Chest cracking when I turn a certain way.
4.08p Went to TBI
support group on Tuesday. Mom took me. Dezirae had fun painting a picture. My
head hurt too much to think about trying to paint.
Mom & I chatted
with another guy (I mostly listened). Shared info on how we were injured. He
was in an auto accident about eight yrs ago.
During our
conversation, he asked me if my personality has changed since my injury. I had
to think a moment. I had to admit that my personality indeed has changed since
my injury. I knew it had some but I wasn’t exactly sure how much.
I discussed it with my
husband a couple days later when I remembered the question. He confirmed that
it had changed. He said that I’m now more skittish of everything.
I would like to think
that I’m doing good and getting farther in my recovery than I probably am, but
in reality I still need lots of help. I was a very independent person before
with the attitude that there’s nothing God and I can’t figure out or
handle.
Now, I have to admit
I’m afraid to be alone. I’m afraid of falling. I don’t comprehended things as
quickly as before. I get confused easily. I lack the ability to concentrate on
one thing for any length of time (even now I got distracted and stopped to do
something else before remembering I was writing this info).
My life has forever
changed since my lightning strike. I’m not the same person I was. I’m learning
to adjust to my new normal which I know will take time.
It’s peculiar how a
traumatic event will change your perception and outlook on life. I’m just
focusing on one day at a time. I’m thankful for the Lord’s mercies and His
faithfulness to be by my side each step of the way. I’m thankful for my loving
family that has been supportive along the way.
Lamentations 3:22-2
8:45p – Sharp stabbing
pain in center of chest. Costocondritisflairing up again! Ouch!!
John 10:28-30 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.
Thankful that I have the assurance of eternal
security in Christ Jesus. Through mountain top experiences or stormy seas,
God’s love for me will never fade.
8.13a Woke up
with mild headache. Tired. Lower back aches. Hands and arms fiery, tingling
pain. Feet ache. Ankles slighty swollen & ache.Bright lights
bothersome.Tired.
10.48p I’m so
overwhelmed right now. Lord, lead me to the Rock that is higher than I (Psalm
61)
Psalm 61:1-2 Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
Hebrews 6:19-20 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Thankful that my anchor is in
Christ Jesus. He alone can keep me safe in the midst of stormy weather.
🎶”Will your anchor hold in the storms of life, When the clouds unfold their wings of strife? When the strong tides lift, and the cables strain, Will your anchor drift or firm remain? We have an anchor that keeps the soul Stedfast and sure while the billows roll, Fastened to the Rock which cannot move, Grounded firm and deep in the Savior’s love.”🎶
12:00p- Kiddos going to camp this week – Jordon (PCC Basketball camp) & Dezirae(Gulf Coast Baptist Camp). This mom is excited for them, but nervous for them too. Praying for God’s protection and leading in their lives. 🙏❤
June 26, 2018
9>30p – A few more symptoms to overcome…painful, swollen feet and legs which turn red when I’m on my feet too long.
9:59p I saw a t-shirt with a similar saying on it yesterday while
dropping our son off at camp. I immediately thought of Psalms 46:1 “God is
our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
It was an encouragement to me. It has stuck with
me (actual word I’m trying to think of escapes me at the moment).
On the way home, we ended up driving through a
thunderstorm. I am scared of them since my lightning strike. I was able to
quote this to myself and keep my fears to a minimum.
Thought I’d share to help someone else…
9>23p – I’ve got good news to share…my blood pressure is finally in the normal range! It was 104/73 today. That’s a huge difference from 173/131 just a couple of weeks ago. I called my Dr because I was starting to feel faintish. He is cutting my newest blood pressure rx in half. I know I still have a long road to recovery, but I’m heading in the right direction. Keep moving forward!
