Positive, healthy relationships strengthen my happiness. I value relationships with loved ones and friends. I give their happiness as much priority as I share my own.

I do what I can to make the lives of my loved ones better.

I know I may not be able to help in every situation. But I give my best effort to support and uplift them however I can. I know that my input is greatly appreciated.

My happiness is multiplied when I can contribute to someone else's happiness. I feel accomplished. I believe in fulfilling my God-given purpose on earth.

I am sure to pay attention to my own needs as well. At times, I have to choose one or the other, but I am aware that I can only be as good to others as I am to myself.

When I have loved ones around me, my days feel much brighter. The sense of family and community makes life worth living. I enjoy the genuine care and love we have for each other.

Today, I commit to unselfishly loving others. I believe that my actions always resu...

Each day, I take part in situations, events, and tasks. Some of these occurrences involve only me. But whatever I am doing, I make every effort to do it with zeal, enthusiasm, and spirit.

I feel that whatever it is I am doing is worth my time. Therefore, I do it with enthusiasm.

Because I am enthusiastic about most tasks, I am rarely bored. Life is filled with fascinating people, places, and things. I want to experience all the best of what life has to offer. I embrace every situation with zest.

I make a conscious decision to jump in with both feet and develop a keen interest in whatever I do.

I find the day goes by faster when I stay enthused and consciously connected to what is going on around me. My enthusiasm flows, whether I am washing the car, talking to a neighbor, or working on a favored project at the office.

I live life in living color because of my enthusiasm. I put my all into each job, and because I do, my life is better.

My enthusiasm paves the way...

What is lupus?

Lupus is a chronic (long-term) disease that can cause inflammation and pain in any body part. It is an autoimmune disease, which means that your immune system—the body system that usually fights infections—attacks healthy tissue instead.

Lupus most commonly affects your: 

• Skin
• Joints
• Internal organs, like your kidneys and heart

Because lupus affects many body parts, it can cause many different symptoms.

Who is at risk for lupus?

Lupus can affect anyone, but it is important to note that women are most likely to be affected by it. However, men and children can also be affected. This understanding can help women feel less isolated in their struggle with lupus.

Those with the highest risk for developing lupus are:

• Women aged 15 – 44 years
• People from racial and ethnic minority groups
• People with a family history of lupus or other autoimmune diseases

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), lupus occurs more often in...

I am thankful today for the abundance of gifts in my life. Not the least of these are my natural abilities and aptitudes. Whether I have many or just a few of these, I make sure to put them into service. It brings me joy to use my natural talents.

Each day, I have an opportunity to do something at which I am innately good. I see every one of these situations as a blessing. Not only do I get to feel good about myself and my abilities, but I get to offer the fruits of those gifts to others.

Perhaps I am good at organization, and my neighbor is frustrated over her lack of skill in this area. I can certainly be helpful there.

Or maybe I paint or sing well and can offer the results of my artistic abilities to others.

Perhaps the thing I do best is cook. Surely someone I know could use a hand with this! I feel good each time I have a chance to help.

Also, doing the things I am good at helps me connect with people who value those skills. Whether they have similar or differ...

Lupus and Women’s Health: A Christian Perspective

Lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease, presents unique challenges for Christian women. It causes pain, fatigue, and inflammation throughout the body, making it an “invisible illness.”  Living with lupus can be a daunting journey, both physically and emotionally, especially when viewed through the lens of faith.

Diagnosis

Lupus can be hard to diagnose since its symptoms are often mistaken for symptoms of other diseases.

A rheumatologist can diagnose lupus.

• A rheumatologist is a doctor who specializes in painful conditions affecting the body's joints, muscles, or connective tissues, such as lupus.

There is no one test for lupus. But your doctor will most likely:

• Discuss your symptoms.
• Do physical exams.
• Take X-rays.
• Run lab tests.

How is lupus managed?

There is a lot that women can do to manage lupus.

Women with lupus can have a typical lifespan and a high quality of life. They can take steps to control sym...

I approach each new day with enthusiasm and an open mind. Even if I am faced with the unexpected, I handle it without complaining. I agree with the timing of experiences in my life.

I welcome the new path before me. Instead of feeling down about things taking time to happen, I make the most, here and now. Each moment I get to live is a chance to live well.

I have goals that are crucial to me, yet I am patient in going after them. I look at delays in my journey as opportunities to prepare myself for better success.

My academic path is different from my friends', but I am okay with getting my degree later than planned. I made space for other experiences. And those experiences shaped the future that is just right for me.

Each moment I get to live is a chance to live well. I applied it to my advantage and came out well in the end. This attitude allows me to accept my situation.

My attention is on making the most of all that life puts before me. I understand the experien...

What it is

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), often just called lupus, is:

• An autoimmune disease. This means the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its healthy cells and tissues, leading to inflammation and damage in organs or systems.
• A long-term (chronic) disease that affects many different parts of the body.

There are many signs and symptoms of lupus.

• This can make it hard for doctors to diagnose.
• Symptoms can range from mild to life-threatening.

There is no cure for lupus, but it can be treated.

• The earlier you can diagnose lupus, the better you can treat and manage it.

Types of Lupus

• Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the most common form of lupus. It can affect a person's joints, skin, brain, lungs, kidneys, and blood vessels. This form of lupus is more likely to occur in people from racial and ethnic minority groups than in non-Hispanic White people.
• Cutaneous lupus is a skin disease that affects people with or without SLE in the form of a ra...

My life is filled with love and peace.

I feel love the most when I love others. I am free of the need for perfection in others. I embrace human weaknesses. Love has a quality of loyalty that exists through good and bad times.

Just as flowers need the sun to survive, I require love to survive. My life is overflowing with love. I have every abundance I could ever need. I keep true love in my heart.

I spread love everywhere I go. Everyone that comes into contact with me leaves happier. I choose love because hate is too burdensome to bear.

Love is the thing that makes life worthwhile. A life without love lacks soul and meaning. I give the emotion of love the attention it deserves in my life. I ask myself how I can be more loving to those around me.

Kindness can be viewed as loving someone more than necessary. I value kindness in my life and seek out compassion from others. Kind words result in confidence. Kind thoughts create love.

My life is peaceful and loving becaus...

One of the most empowering things women do for our children is to teach them to be independent and to be able to make decisions and take actions on their own. This independence will raise their self-esteem and enable them to handle any situation confidently.

Here are eight effective and fun ways to help your child become more independent.

1. Enlist your child’s help. Tell them that you have observed that there are things they can do on their own that you have been doing for them. Then ask for their support in allowing you to let them carry out those activities. This makes it seem like they are helping you change, not the other way around. It also fosters cooperation.
2. Look for occasions to create more independence. Make a list of things you believe your child could do independently. Then have the child select which ones they feel they would like to do. This empowers them to make decisions independently and try to do more things without your help.
3. Do not try to hand over all the...

Each year on May 10, the world comes together to recognize Lupus Awareness Day, shedding light on the struggles and remarkable resilience of those with lupus. For many women, lupus is a daily challenge, affecting their health, energy, and ability to engage in life as they once did. As Christians, our hope is in God’s promises, even in the face of chronic illness. On this day of awareness and support, we lean into the strength and peace in the Word of God, encouraging those walking through the lupus trials.

What Is Lupus?

Lupus is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own healthy tissues, leading to inflammation, pain, and damage to various organs. It predominantly affects women and can cause fatigue, joint pain, skin rashes, and, in more severe cases, organ complications. Living with lupus requires daily management, perseverance, and great inner strength.

As we acknowledge the realities of lupus, we must also reflect on the truth of God’s ...