Guardian Angels News

This Month is National Mental Illness Month, and National Dyslexia Month.

If you know someone with a mental illness, please don't make them feel like they have to prove how unwell they are. They are fighting a misunderstood, invisible illness that is life threatening. Please be kind.

Even though these are invisible, they represent people who feel different, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t real or significant. Still just the idea of mental illness can make people uncomfortable. In fact, that challenges me to go beyond the surface, beyond what I see and find ways to support anyone who is carrying the extra weight of mental illness or being different. This quote assumes I know someone who lives with a mental illness. What if I don’t know? Does that get me off the hook? I don’t think so. It does remind me of another quote I’ve heard quite a bit – “Everyone is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be Kind. Always.” (I don’t know who to attribute it to, as I’ve seen many different names or none at all.) 

Think about it. How would you know? I don’t know the story behind someone who is fighting depression, or anxiety, or dyslexia (or any number of other mental illnesses.) I can’t see by looking at them, other than they may seem down or low or agitated. Oftentimes people who struggle with a mental illness may act out - it may be part of their mental illness, or maybe it’s because they get frustrated with how difficult it can be to have no power over feeling those ways, or about what they can or cannot do because of this mental illness. And if I did know, I might be tempted to think, “Why can’t they just get over it? After all, I do get kind of low or agitated, once in a while, or even get words I read mixed up (if I’m not paying close enough attention.)” At the very least I might be uncomfortable about something I don’t understand. Shouldn’t others be able to pull themselves up by their bootstraps “like regular people?” (What demeaning words!) No. Comparisons really are of no use whatsoever when it comes to making assessments about myself or others. What do I do then? How should I be? Loving, I think. That’s what Jesus was like.  “Kind. Always” as the quote says. After all, haven’t I at times in my life had very heavy things going on in my life, so I might not act myself. I might not use kind words, because my frustration is coming out sideways. I might not be fun to be around. Of course! I remember at times thinking that my mood or behavior was because of things way out of my control, and that just made me mad. What did I want from other people? Understanding, space, kind, and affirming words. Did I want them to try to fix me? No! I really just wanted them to hear me, and not be afraid to be around me. I did not want them to run away because they didn’t think my issues were real or important – they were all in my head. How much more true might that even be with people who struggle with a mental illness, which they truly cannot control? Or trauma, emotional wounds, that continue to impact us in some way?

Be kind, be there, listen, try to understand, and refrain from making judgments, because I do not know anyone’s story, or how their story may show up in their lives. I can just accept people for who they are – who God made them to be.

Loving God,

guide me to accept people where they’re at, for who they are, as I do not know the miracle you are creating in them.

Holy Spirit, guide me to truly hear someone’s story, when asked to, or to let someone know that I am open to their story.

May I always be kind, no matter what.

In this way I honor you, in gratitude for your unconditional love for me.

~ Amen