I'm asking for...an :angel:

Goodmorning!! I am asking today if someone would like to be my angel. My surgery date is the 16th Jan., and seems now to be coming up quickly, whereas the time has seemed to drag up until now. How does it change in perspective like that in a minute??? Well, it did, and I am finding myself checking to see if I am ignoring my husband and his needs through this journey. We have talked and talked some more, but I still feel so SELF-ABSORBED. Is this what the rest of you have experienced? Of course, often I think that ALL of my life has been self-ish. Maybe not on the outside, as we who struggle with obesity often over compensate in our "service to others", for lots of reasons;but on the inside, where we do the "self-talk", comparing ourselves, condemning our failures, minimizing our successes. I call it "playing God", and have to daily turn those duties back over to the one who truely IS God!! As if He needed MY permission. Well, I'm not sure where I am going here. Oh yes, please let me know if you experienced this, and how you delt with it, or if you have some insight that will help. I sure love all of you, and have been so greatly blessed to have had this time to learn from you, and be prayed for by you, and to get to know a new "family"! What a gift from the Lord to help prepare me for this journey!! Oh, how wonderful it would be to be able for all of us to come together on this earth and share fellowship in person!! Maybe it will happen one day. Sorry this is such a long post, I do get long winded, something I need to work on. Love you all, and Thank-you with all my heart for your support!! Kathy B.

Hi Kathy. I would love to be your angel if you don't have one yet. Why don't you email me, and I'll write back. Love in the Lord, Peg [email protected]

Hi Peg! You are a sweetheart! I am so glad you are going to be Kathy's angel - she is most blessed to have you. I will be praying for the both of you! I love you! God Bless, Lynda Phil. 4:8

Hi Lynda. You say the sweetest things about people. Thank you for making everyone feel so welcome here. I have a question for you. I have never been an angel or had an angel, so I'm not really sure what I should be doing for Kathy. Any suggestions? She did send me her address and phone numbers, and we have exchanged email addresses. Now what? Thanks, Lynda. God bless you. Love, Peg

Hi Peg! I copied the below information off the angel site here at OH. What is an Angel? An angel is a buddy who who looks after someone else during the period of their surgery. Maintaining contact and offering support during this period is important. Angels play a vital role of relaying information back and forth between the person and their friends on the internet. Are there specific duties of an angel? The role is an informal one, but two tasks are: 1. Post updates to the person's surgery status page 2. If the person approves, print their card from the web site and fax it to them while they are in the hospital. The best way to do this is often to fax it to their surgeon's office for the surgeon to deliver to them. Part of the reason for assigning angels is so that surgeon's offices don't receive multiple copies of the same messages to relay. I am sure you are going to do a wonderful job for Kathy! And what is neat those of us here on the Christianity board can take it much further than the suggested duties by lifting her up in prayer - that is the biggest support! Isn't it exciting to see how this surgery is changing lives and the hope that it brings to so many? Thank you for your encouragement and love - you always make my day! You are in my prayers!! I love you! God Bless, Lynda Phil. 4:8

Hi Kathy! Peg will be a wonderful angel for you! You are so sweet and your concerns about being self-absorbed show that you aren't self-absorbed but rather excited and anxious for a life changing experience. I understand completly what you mean about the "self-talk," and comparing, and condemning our failures, and minimizing our successes - it is almost like you have been in my head for years! You are describing what a lot of people go through with their weight problem and now see hope with this surgery. I am so glad I have the Lord and His strength through this journey. I can reasure you that a little while after surgery you will not be worrying about being self-absorbed but rather have a keen sense of needing to take care of yourself. I now don't worry about those things (self-talk, etc.) but whether I am getting proper nutrition and exercise, etc. This surgery gave me a fighting chance that nothing else ever has and I am praising God for His mercies towards me. The energy and confidence I have gained has made me a better wife, mother, friend, and I can do more for others and my church! And I am able to do one of my very favorite activities - skiing! Like I said in my profile "a good ski run is like a perfect prayer - it just happens." Kathy, I am praying that God will give you the desires of your heart. I am in Idaho all the time - just there for my grandmother's funeral. It would be a delight to get together with you sometime! Please email me at [email protected] or call me at (801)776-8881 - I would love to talk! You are precious and I am so glad you joined us and I pray that we are just as much of a blessing to you as you have been to us! I love you! God Bless, Lynda Phil. 4:8

Thanks, Lynda!! I sent you an e-mail, and will be talking to you later!Kathy

Hi Kathy. I tried sending you an email, and it came back with a message from your email provider saying it is blocked until you grant permission to receive my email. I just sent it again. Hope it works. I woke up this morning with a prayer on my lips for you, dear sister in Christ. I pray that you are surrounded by the Lord's peace and love and know that so many of us are lifting you up in prayer. God bless you. Love, Peg