Q U I C K S C A N

Bring Words to Prayer
The Power of Words
Resources

My dear friend Carol had just been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). We talked, cried and prayed together over the phone. I do not remember what prompted it, but I told her she needed to say, "I have MS." It might sound like a simple thing to do, but it is a significant thing. She could not say the words right away, but eventually she did.

Words create a powerful reality. When I first read an editor's comment, "Karen is a freelance writer and frequent contributor to this magazine," I was pleased. Then I thought, "I am a writer!" It did not matter that I had been contributing to that magazine every month for more than 13 years. When I saw this description of me written, it became a reality outside of me. It objectified a part of my life.

Saying that we have a disease is not an easy task. Saying "I have Alzheimer's" or "I have cancer" can release many emotions which we may have been suppressing. By saying that we have a disease, we acknowledge its reality and therefore can face it. Although it might be difficult, naming the disease can be therapeutic because we are admitting that we are sick. Naming it actually helps put us in control.

Bring Words to Prayer

A safe, intimate place to say the difficult words about our health problem is in our daily prayer. Our Creator God loves us unconditionally and is gentle and caring. Talking with God and saying, "I have cancer," can be a start to recovery. The reality of what is happening in my life is put into perspective.

Sharing our health concerns with God in prayer can be a nonthreatening way to put order in our lives. God is present with us. Remembering that can be freeing. Tell God how you feel.

We need to make our needs known. The Gospels seldom portray Jesus as going around healing everyone in sight. Rather, the sick and the poor come to him. Only occasionally does Jesus cure someone with a critical need. Almost always, Jesus must be asked by those who seek to be cured. Those who seek healing have to say that they are sick or take action, as does the sick woman who was healed after touching Jesus' cloak (see Matthew 9:20-22).

The Power of Words

Words have power whether we say them aloud or write them down. Writing is another way to name a reality in our life. Often, when we write something down about our lives, it is cathartic. We get the pain out of our hearts. It is placed somewhere else for a while. The event is still there in our life, but when we name the problem, disease or even the good in our life, it can be healing. We have power or control over it. It does not go away, but we place it in a safe perspective.

Journaling—writing down our own thoughts, prayers, feelings—can be a means of healing. When we go to a room or place we call our own and quiet down, we can journal and articulate feelings like fear, anxiety or God's deep love for us.

Journaling is healthy for us. You cannot be wrong when you write down your feelings, emotions, life events, etc.

One heart patient adds, "At one time I could not talk about what was happening; now people can't get me to be quiet. I found that talking helped the healing process."

Say it. Write it down. Name and claim your disease. It can be healthy. This has worked for me and for others.

Sister Karen Zielinski, O.S.F., was director of communications for the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, Ohio, from 1991 to 2008. She is now director of Canticle Studio, for products which focus on spirituality and health. She can be contacted at whollyhealthy@ AmericanCatholic.org.