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I’m Not Antisocial; I’m Just Wired Differently
Animals of the Bible, Spiritual Growth, encouragement, identity, Life's Journey Dana Rongione Animals of the Bible, Spiritual Growth, encouragement, identity, Life's Journey Dana Rongione

I’m Not Antisocial; I’m Just Wired Differently

I need to confess something right up front: I love people... in small, carefully rationed doses. Put me in a quiet room with my dog, a book, and a cup of tea, and I am the sweetest, most pleasant version of myself you will ever meet. But stick me in a crowded family reunion for six hours straight, and something happens. My smile tightens. My patience evaporates. By the time I finally climb into the car to go home, I am basically Mr. Hyde in a denim skirt.

For years, I thought something was wrong with me. Good Christians are supposed to love being around people all the time, right? Shouldn't fellowship fill me up instead of wearing me down? I quietly filed myself under the label of "flawed" or “broken” and moved on, feeling guilty every time I turned down an invitation just so I could recharge alone.

Then I learned about grasshoppers, or more specifically, locusts. Stay with me here! This gets good.

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When the Body Attacks Itself
Chronic Illness, Encouragement, Comfort Dana Rongione Chronic Illness, Encouragement, Comfort Dana Rongione

When the Body Attacks Itself

I still remember the first time I said it out loud: “Lord, my body is trying to kill me.”

It had been one of those days with joints on fire, muscles shaking, and fatigue so heavy I felt like I was wading through molasses. Meanwhile, my immune system was acting like an overzealous security guard, tackling anything that moved, including innocent bystanders like my thyroid and joints.

In my mind, my body had become the enemy.
And then there was that verse: “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” (Psalm 139:14)

I’ll be honest. At that moment, I really struggled with that verse.

“Fearfully and wonderfully made?” I grumbled. “Lord, this feels more like fearfully and wonderfully malfunctioning.”

For those of us with autoimmune disease or chronic illness, there’s a special kind of heartbreak in feeling like your own body has betrayed you.

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The Battle To Be Real
Insecurity, Self Doubt Dana Rongione Insecurity, Self Doubt Dana Rongione

The Battle To Be Real

May I be honest with you? I'm struggling right now. You would think being forced to stay inside and keep still to make sure Tess does the same would be an easy job. After all, I love to stay in, and working from bed isn't a hardship for me. But, the task is more complex than it first seemed. As it turns out, there's a big difference between getting to stay home and do the things you need and want to do around the house and having to stay home and do some of the things you need and want to do while watching the rest of the house fall apart around you.

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