Thread by @MushKat

I had a long conversation with a friend yesterday who is dealing with a chronic illness. She depends on many friends and family for her care.

She asked me how I have been able to do the things that I have, being alone. I said I had many caregivers at the beginning, but at some point, I gave myself "permission to heal".

IOW, as easy as it would have been to keep accepting *all* the help, physically and financially, my recovery depended on me getting back to living and doing the day-to-day on my own. I still rely on rides to doctor's appointments and delivery services for basic needs, but now I am able to handle the day-to-day living by myself.

She finds herself relying on all her friends and family for many day-to-day things she's told herself she's "not feeling up to". I let her know that once she starts to do *anything* on her own, she'll recognize her own abilities to do things like make phone calls to lower her utility bills, etc. I also gently reminded her of the spending she's used to, and that saying no to impulse buying and amassing stuff, and basically just *whim spending*, should be her new rally call. No more buying ice cream makers that you use once then store in the garage.

Part of the problem is she's always been a very large part of providing for her family and extended family, and even though she can no longer work, she still spends as if she does. She never says no to herself or her friends and family.

I told her generosity is always a great thing, but her financial generosity might need to shift to a relational one now. Build up her friendships by reaching out to people rather than waiting for them to make the first move. Invest in the friendships with those who care about *her*, not her *money*. It will become obvious who is there for money only, not for friendship. I heard an almost audible click as that thought registered with her.

Then I was actually able to explain how to take back her financial life in a few tangible ways. Once she realizes she is quite capable of making one phone call a day to the utility companies to ask for senior discounts to lower her bills in line with her new budgetary restrictions, she'll recognize her independence start to return. THAT'S permission to heal. Not just physically, but relationally, financially, emotionally, etc.

I pep-talked her a little more and I do believe she's ready for baby steps to freedom.

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FROM EDEN TO ETERNITY: A CHRONOLOGICAL YEAR THROUGH THE BIBLE
with Daily Grace

Reminder: before you begin reading, pause for a moment to pray that God will help you know Him more today than yesterday. As you read today’s chapters, consider these questions:

1. What attributes of God’s character are revealed in the passage?

Consider places where the text directly states the character of God, as well as how His character is revealed through His words and actions.

2. How does the passage point to Jesus?

Consider how the passage reveals the problem of sin and the forgiveness of sins offered through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. What do I learn about myself in light of who God is?

3. How should the truth of this passage change me?

Consider how you fall short of God’s character, how the text reveals your sin nature, and what it says about your new identity in Christ.

Consider how you might pray for God to change your heart or what practical steps you can take toward cultivating habits of holiness.

4. How do the events of today's reading help you better understand the grand narrative of Scripture?

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GENESIS 40

JOSEPH INTERPRETS TWO DREAMS

Genesis 40:1-23 NLT
[1] Some time later, Pharaoh’s chief cup-bearer and chief baker offended their royal master. [2] Pharaoh became angry with these two officials, [3] and he put them in the prison where Joseph was, in the palace of the captain of the guard. [4] They remained in prison for quite some time, and the captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, who looked after them. [5] While they were in prison, Pharaoh’s cup-bearer and baker each had a dream one night, and each dream had its own meaning. [6] When Joseph saw them the next morning, he noticed that they both looked upset. [7] “Why do you look so worried today?” he asked them. [8] And they replied, “We both had dreams last night, but no one can tell us what they mean.” “Interpreting dreams is God’s business,” Joseph replied. “Go ahead and tell me your dreams.” [9] So the chief cup-bearer told Joseph his dream first. “In my dream,” he said, “I saw a grapevine in front of me. [10] The vine had three branches that began to bud and blossom, and soon it produced clusters of ripe grapes. [11] I was holding Pharaoh’s wine cup in my hand, so I took a cluster of grapes and squeezed the juice into the cup. Then I placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.” [12] “This is what the dream means,” Joseph said. “The three branches represent three days. [13] Within three days Pharaoh will lift you up and restore you to your position as his chief cup-bearer. [14] And please remember me and do me a favor when things go well for you. Mention me to Pharaoh, so he might let me out of this place. [15] For I was kidnapped from my homeland, the land of the Hebrews, and now I’m here in prison, but I did nothing to deserve it.” [16] When the chief baker saw that Joseph had given the first dream such a positive interpretation, he said to Joseph, “I had a dream, too. In my dream there were three baskets of white pastries stacked on my head. [17] The top basket contained all kinds of pastries for Pharaoh, but the birds came and ate them from the basket on my head.” [18] “This is what the dream means,” Joseph told him. “The three baskets also represent three days. [19] Three days from now Pharaoh will lift you up and impale your body on a pole. Then birds will come and peck away at your flesh.” [20] Pharaoh’s birthday came three days later, and he prepared a banquet for all his officials and staff. He summoned his chief cup-bearer and chief baker to join the other officials. [21] He then restored the chief cup-bearer to his former position, so he could again hand Pharaoh his cup. [22] But Pharaoh impaled the chief baker, just as Joseph had predicted when he interpreted his dream. [23] Pharaoh’s chief cup-bearer, however, forgot all about Joseph, never giving him another thought.

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GENESIS 41

PHAROAH'S DREAMS

Genesis 41:1-13 NLT
[1] Two full years later, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing on the bank of the Nile River. [2] In his dream he saw seven fat, healthy cows come up out of the river and begin grazing in the marsh grass. [3] Then he saw seven more cows come up behind them from the Nile, but these were scrawny and thin. These cows stood beside the fat cows on the riverbank. [4] Then the scrawny, thin cows ate the seven healthy, fat cows! At this point in the dream, Pharaoh woke up. [5] But he fell asleep again and had a second dream. This time he saw seven heads of grain, plump and beautiful, growing on a single stalk. [6] Then seven more heads of grain appeared, but these were shriveled and withered by the east wind. [7] And these thin heads swallowed up the seven plump, well-formed heads! Then Pharaoh woke up again and realized it was a dream. [8] The next morning Pharaoh was very disturbed by the dreams. So he called for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. When Pharaoh told them his dreams, not one of them could tell him what they meant. [9] Finally, the king’s chief cup-bearer spoke up. “Today I have been reminded of my failure,” he told Pharaoh. [10] “Some time ago, you were angry with the chief baker and me, and you imprisoned us in the palace of the captain of the guard. [11] One night the chief baker and I each had a dream, and each dream had its own meaning. [12] There was a young Hebrew man with us in the prison who was a slave of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams, and he told us what each of our dreams meant. [13] And everything happened just as he had predicted. I was restored to my position as cup-bearer, and the chief baker was executed and impaled on a pole.”

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GENESIS 41 (CONTINUED)

Genesis 41:14-36
[14] Pharaoh sent for Joseph at once, and he was quickly brought from the prison. After he shaved and changed his clothes, he went in and stood before Pharaoh. [15] Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream last night, and no one here can tell me what it means. But I have heard that when you hear about a dream you can interpret it.” [16] “It is beyond my power to do this,” Joseph replied. “But God can tell you what it means and set you at ease.” [17] So Pharaoh told Joseph his dream. “In my dream,” he said, “I was standing on the bank of the Nile River, [18] and I saw seven fat, healthy cows come up out of the river and begin grazing in the marsh grass. [19] But then I saw seven sick-looking cows, scrawny and thin, come up after them. I’ve never seen such sorry-looking animals in all the land of Egypt. [20] These thin, scrawny cows ate the seven fat cows. [21] But afterward you wouldn’t have known it, for they were still as thin and scrawny as before! Then I woke up. [22] “In my dream I also saw seven heads of grain, full and beautiful, growing on a single stalk. [23] Then seven more heads of grain appeared, but these were blighted, shriveled, and withered by the east wind. [24] And the shriveled heads swallowed the seven healthy heads. I told these dreams to the magicians, but no one could tell me what they mean.” [25] Joseph responded, “Both of Pharaoh’s dreams mean the same thing. God is telling Pharaoh in advance what he is about to do. [26] The seven healthy cows and the seven healthy heads of grain both represent seven years of prosperity. [27] The seven thin, scrawny cows that came up later and the seven thin heads of grain, withered by the east wind, represent seven years of famine. [28] “This will happen just as I have described it, for God has revealed to Pharaoh in advance what he is about to do. [29] The next seven years will be a period of great prosperity throughout the land of Egypt. [30] But afterward there will be seven years of famine so great that all the prosperity will be forgotten in Egypt. Famine will destroy the land. [31] This famine will be so severe that even the memory of the good years will be erased. [32] As for having two similar dreams, it means that these events have been decreed by God, and he will soon make them happen. [33] “Therefore, Pharaoh should find an intelligent and wise man and put him in charge of the entire land of Egypt. [34] Then Pharaoh should appoint supervisors over the land and let them collect one-fifth of all the crops during the seven good years. [35] Have them gather all the food produced in the good years that are just ahead and bring it to Pharaoh’s storehouses. Store it away, and guard it so there will be food in the cities. [36] That way there will be enough to eat when the seven years of famine come to the land of Egypt. Otherwise this famine will destroy the land.”

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