My friend, Jan

I love my friend, Jan. I have known Jan and his wife, Yvonne for the past 15 years. When I met them, I was a student and they the new pastor and his wife.

Since then a lot of things happened. Jan has bipolar disorder and was only correctly diagnosed almost 5 years after his first breakdown. Jan cannot minister any longer. There is a lot of things he can no longer do, but he remains one of the sharpest brains I know. He wrote the bulk of my previous 3 posts. Yet, when Jan has a lot of people around him, he gets nervous and then his hands start shaking (side effect of lithium). He therefore spends his time mostly on his own or with the occasional friend.

Yvonne works fulltime and supports him. It used to be the other way around, but they both seem to have taken this in their stride.

When I first got sick, they were two of the amazing people who insisted I see a doctor. They also told me they think I have bipolar disorder two years before I was diagnosed. We can compare drugs and talk about side effects. We can discuss alternative therapies like ECT's without any frowns.

When I am too weak, I know that they will somehow be there. The opposite is also true. Their journey gives me hope for mine.

So why am I telling you this? Firstly, I want to acknowledge these amazing people. Secondly, Jan has to have a shoulder operation tomorrow. We don't know if there will be side effects, but the op needs to be done.

So, when you say your prayers tonight, please remember my dear friends, Jan and Yvonne?