My Mother's Pain

by JR
(Maryland)

My mother has been suffering physical pain for years. Her back, her legs and feet, her neck, her hands. There were constant visits to doctors, but none ever seemed to help. She's currently seeing a chiropractor and all he's said is that she's not gotten any worse.
In addition to all this physical pain, she's been enduring emotional pain for most of her life. Her mother died when she was a baby and there were some who blamed my mother for it.

She had a step-mother who physically and emotionally abused her. There was an uncle who touched her as a child. Her sister was 12 years older than her and used to tell people she was her niece, as if she was ashamed of her. At 16 she had an ulcer. When she met my dad, she thought all was going to be well. She's endured 45 years of verbal and emotional abuse from him.

Even though, without her, he would have had nothing and he knows it, he's constantly making fun of her and "God damning" her.

Her one constant friend has been her dog. Now he too is suffering and she worries that she is going to lose him. She already had to put one dog down several years ago who had health issues and now she feels that life is repeating itself.

My mother is a very talented and creative person. She loves to sew but has been unable to do so because of her pain. She used to love to garden but can't. She's not even able to go shopping as walking around for too long is too much for her.

She's asked for God's help but feels that He's abandoned her. She's asked for less pain or to at least to be able to cope with it, but nothing seems to change. All she hears from friends and others are problems and issues that they are enduring as well. She doesn't understand why God doesn't help his children if he's such a loving Father.

She's at such a fragile state that I worry about her constantly. She and I are close, unlike my sister and her, but even the two of us have been bickering and arguing. I keep praying for help for her and all those around us. I'm starting to loose faith as well. That is why I'm coming to St Jude to ask for his assistance in helping us, but especially my mother.

I want her to enjoy her life. To be able to bless others and herself with her gifts and talents. She keeps asking why God has given her gifts but not let her use them.

Thank you for hearing my prayer!