Religious inspiration in times of deep suffering
France Pastorelli (1880-1958)
She struggled with her disease - because that is what life made her do.
This book records the wisdom that struggle gave her.
About Hope - France Pastorelli Quote
When I felt the first light touches of my approaching illness, in spite of their recurrence, I had no real consciousness that they would remain with me always ; the first little scratch of a wound which could only go on deepening and extending, a disease which finally would place me in the ranks of the severely wounded..
Then I found that hope rooted in every fibre of my being kept springing up in spite of all appearances; how lively it was, how constantly renewed, how long it resisted destruction, this hope that one day my malady would subside, that power would come back, and that my body would recover strength enough to be the servant of my mind. With what energy born in turn of rebellion, hope and despair, did I fight against ... this insidious and progressive decline of strength, this ever contracting circle. A bed in which for many years I have spent more days than I have outside of it, and which for four years I have not left. What remains of that former tenacious and ardent hope?
Nothing.
Strength out of suffering, France Pastorelli - the book
Strength out of suffering
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Moving, life changing and worth rereading every time illness touches your life, or the life of those you love.
Also a must read for those in the health profession: it will help remind you just how human your patients are. They are more than just their disease.
About dealing with patients - and being one
Pastorelli shares the complexities of her relationships in depth.
How hard it is to only ask for help half the time.
How hard it is to deal with people who seem to think you should have asked for help even less.
How hard it must be to care for someone who keeps moaning about their life.
How hard it is to not moan about your life when you are in so much pain.
Etc.
The ultimate lesson for the caregiver should be this one: don't forget the human behind the disease. It may be tempting to refer to a patient by their disease, but from the perspective of the patient this is debilitating. Each patient has their own life story, their own way of dealing with disease.
While the doctor or nurse is concerned with their illness and possible solutions to their main problem, they have to live their life as best they can. This involves sorrow, anger at fate and asks the patient for near infinite patience. None of those things get solved by prescribing medicine or dressing a wound.
Old Dutch translation of France Pastorelli's book
About finding spiritual comfort
France Pastorelli quotes the Bible often. I'm not normally a fan of Christianity, but this book shows the best of that tradition in my opinion. It shows just how helpful the moral guidelines in the New Testament can be. Just how inspiring the life of Jesus can be to those who have to suffer throughout their lives.
A question for God
France Pastorelli Quote
My God, there are certain circumstances in which it is not easy to trace thy hand. I fail to understand why Thou hast chained me a few feet from my piano.
How I found this book...
Picture an old, brick, Dutch city house - with garage. Dusty, empty - except for this one book...
I was starting on my spiritual search at the time, and France Pastorelli's story touched me deeply.
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Have you had to find strength in suffering?
Did you know this book?
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Reply
- dustytoes dustytoes Mar 8, 2009 @ 3:56 pm
- Yes, and I am still finding it- the strength. Suffering makes us find out things about ourselves and others that are hidden until that time. It's like moving into another world and watching where you used to live from a distance. I don't know how people do it without God.
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Reply
- MiaD MiaD Oct 19, 2008 @ 5:13 am
- my answer is no; suffering just makes me become extremelly angry and furious, and the only question i have in mind is - why me?
ia hate suffering with all my heart, and as a consequence- i am extremelly afraid of even the prospect of illnes and suffering (being this suffering of any nature - biological or psychological)...
on your blog you speak about life how it is versus life as we want it to be - i am afraid that as i cannot understand always life as it is, i have to live with the life as i think it should be....and when illnes comes and puts a limit to my wishes, well, this is an impossible situation for me- the only way i handle it is with a lot of fury.
your post just brought me to a territory i always try to avoid - and i think is time to try a serious introspection on this issue....thanks! mia :)
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