I'm quickly approaching an anniversary. But it's not an anniversary anyone would want to celebrate. You see, come April, I will have been diagnosed with lupus for ten years. And it was during this time ten years ago, I began to experience the first warning signs that my body wasn't doing well.

A lot has changed in my life during the past ten years, yet it hasn't been the type of changes a senior in high school hopes for or plans. I'm not married. I don't have any children or a house of my own. I'm not a successful nurse or a physical therapist. I don't have money to spare. So what's changed? In one word - me.

I didn't ask to get sick, but I'm thankful it happened. As odd as this may sound, next to Christ, lupus has been the greatest teacher I've ever had. It's taught me to never take life for granted because you never know when it will end. Lupus has taught me to cherish people and not things, because people are the ones who laugh with you when you're happy and cry with you when you're sad. Lupus has taught me to find joy in the small things: a rainbow, a flower, the sound of a child laughing. Lupus has taught me that God is in control and not me, which is why I should stop trying to be in control of every situation life throws my way. Lupus has taught me I'm beautiful just the way God made me, so there's no need to make myself into who the world tells me I ought to be. Lupus has taught me God has a plan for my life, and He'll even use the painful times in my life for good. Lupus has taught me God loves me in such an amazing, huge way that I'll never be able to fully comprehend the depth of His love. Lupus has taught me I can trust God, and He is worthy of that trust.

I have a confession to make. I love thunderstorms. I enjoy seeing God's display of power and beauty. There is a majesty in storms that we as humans will never be able to create. Despite how hard the human race tries to prove otherwise, storms are evidence there is a powerful God who is in control of all things. But as much as I love to listen and watch thunderstorms, I must admit I detest the storms of life that wreak havoc in my well-ordered life.

I imagine we are all like this. Who wants to be a part of something that steals our peace of mind and changes our plans? Personally, I have experienced many personal storms. To be so young, I have been through a lot, and I am sure I will continue to experience storms as long as I live. It's just the way life is. If life was perfect, with no storms, then it would be Heaven. And as we all know, this isn't Heaven. But as is true with thunderstorms, some personal storms are bigger than others. And some storms cause more damage than others.

Another year has come and gone. To be perfectly honest, I feel like we were celebrating the start of 2011 just a few months ago. There's an old saying which says, "Time flies when you're having fun." But truth be told, I've found time just flies. It doesn't matter whether or not you're actually having fun. Yet the problem with this is for those who have struggled through a difficult year, it's easy to look back over the year and be disgusted with one's life and the progress which was made. It's easy to get discouraged, especially at this time of year.

It has been three years since I became so horribly sick that I had to move in with my parents and quit my job. I know what it is like to wonder if life will ever get better. For the person who is chronically ill, this is especially true. Having an illness is like riding a roller coaster. There are good days and bad days - times of suffering and times of joy. But the problem with this roller coaster ride is we never asked to get on this ride, and now that we're on we can't get off. Yet through my three years of riding this roller coaster, God has shown me an important truth, and He did it by reminding me off a lesson I once learned in a science class.