I happened upon this blog and thought it was great … and something awesome to share with you all. So, I reached out to the writer and asked if it would be okay for me to share her posts with you. She said yes.
Presenting, Beauty for Ashes: A Blog by Jamila Foreman.
So, I thought I would jump on the blogging bandwagon and see if this is as cathartic for me as it is for others. First, I owe the title of my blog to my bestie. Through the many trials of my life I can count on her to counsel me with scripture and I can still remember her telling me, “He will give you beauty for ashes!” I am not the best writer so I apologize in advance for any grammatical errors that are sure to occur. So, let’s begin. I am 36 years old and for the last 19 years I have been living with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). It’s a painful disease that has affected me physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. For many years it was a source of shame for me, but over the years I have learned to accept it (on most days) and embrace my “new normal.” As a woman, I must admit I have vanity issues. I am a “girly girl” and I love to adorn myself with beautiful things and the latest fashions! I used to be one to get my hair done weekly (not anymore because I am natural now, but that is for another blog) and I love to get a mani and pedi. I especially love getting a design on my big toe! For many years I did not want to wear sandals because of the effect the RA had taken on bones and joints. RA is a disease that causes changes in your joints and bones, sometimes making things crooked that should be straight. As a self-proclaimed vain woman, I didn’t want to show my less than perfect feet, even though they had the perfect pedi and a cute design.
I’m the daughter of a great woman, who is the daughter of a great woman…now I’m just trying to be a great woman.
RELATED: Living With Rheumatoid Arthritis
