Today I am at Leanne Penny’s place. I love how Leanne keeps it real about (among other things) parenting, and she has some really amazing things to say about grief. Most excitingly, I am crashing on her couch next weekend! I cannot wait.

She is running a series on how to help people who are hurting. The older I get the less interested I am in whose who in theological debates, and more interested in who arranges and pitches in on the casserole rotation. We can disagree on a lot of things, and still be united in loving with our whole selves.

It can be particularly difficult to love someone well if their hurting is mysterious.

But you seem fine.

From 1997-2009  my body was not fine. I was tired and achy and just didn’t feel good. For hours, for days, for months at a time. I for sure was not fine.

But you look fine.

But I looked fine. I looked totally normal. I was tallish and thinish and smiled and laughed a lot . I was participating in class discussions and marching the tenor drums in the marching band and trying out for the school plays. I was bringing home trophies from the speech tournaments and dating boys.

Then, I would just up and disappear.

You can read the rest here.