Five Minute Friday: Belong

On some Fridays, when I remember, I blog as part of a bigger group of women called "Five Minute Fridays." Do you blog? Consider joining us!

This week's topic is "belong." What does that mean? This blog is primarily focused on my life with a hearing loss; my hearing loss impacts how I view pretty much everything--especially my sense of belonging.

Where do I belong? First and foremost, I belong to My Creator. I am "fearfully and wonderfully made." (Psalm 139::14). That means even deaf...even someone who used to hear but now is deaf. Hopefully I will soon sing "I once was deaf but now I hear," just like (sort of) in Amazing Grace. I have peace because of the belongingness and the promises of God. He promised also that He has a plan for me: Jer. 29:11: For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

These are the four best humans I know. I belong with them!

Next, I belong with my family. During the whole hearing loss "thing," my family has been terrific. My boys, who are always great, have been more thoughtful and attentive. They are generally worried about their mom. I've muddled through the last several years with a progressive hearing loss, but when it just tanked in March, they were right there with me, being loving and encouraging. My husband (read prior entries to re-live his awesomeness) has been my rock. He has dealt with doctors, hospitals, insurance companies...everything he can to make this journey easier. He even drives slower on 285 on the way to the specialist so I don't freak out as much (Atlanta traffic=bleh!).  He never gave up on my getting the help I needed (in my case, a cochlear implant). My parents, who have dealt with my mom's hearing loss for 40+ years have been great. They are some of my biggest cheerleaders! I am so glad to belong to these people.

My friends are the best. Even when I cannot hear them, they have not abandoned me. They have checked on me, called (talked to hubs), sent texts, chatted on facebook...I know I belong with them. My friends committed to pray for my situation. When all signs said that there was no way the insurance would pay for the cochlear implant, my friends prayed harder...when the hospital statement for just over $88K arrived the other day I was so happy to belong to praying friends--that booger is just a statement, not my bill! I sooo look forward to hearing my friends' voices soon.

I even belong to my work. I'm a middle school English teacher. The best part of my job is being with the kids and building relationships with them...so they know they belong. The past two years, I really couldn't do that because of my hearing. This past week I had 4 days of workshops. Two days were required and two were optional. At the required workshop, I had work friends volunteer to take notes for me. They made sure I knew what was going on. They understand my need to belong and contribute. They get my feelings when I say, "I'm not stupid--I cans still think, talk, contribute; I just can't hear." Thank you Susan, Renee, and Gina. The optional workshop was an institute with keynote speakers. I love to go to these things...but am so surprised how many teachers don't go. I talked to the director of the department back in the spring about my attending and what that would mean. Under the American's with Disabilities Act (ADA), I asked for accommodations. I had a sign language interpreter. I loved feeling like I belonged to this group because we shared the learning. How awesome to take in information without the struggle of lipreading/guessing. Some people looked at me funny--like what I had was contagious. I wonder, how many times do we make people feel like they don't belong? My deafness is changing me; I'm going to be a better person on the other side of this journey.

Where do you belong? Do you make others feel as if they belong? I am very blessed. I have a cochlear implant now. I will be activated next week and then hopefully I will have useful hearing again. I will belong to a select group of bionic people (also called The Borg). I am very excited about this....I feel like I'm getting part of my life back. This is not all of my life, as my life is defined in my relationship, which don't change, because I am where I belong.