What no one wants to talk about....

When you have had to deal with a major illness the experience itself has a profound impact on not only the individual who has to personally face the situation, but these types of medical experiences impact the family and care givers too. Major illness covering several months of hospital admissions, surgeries, procedures and treatments is exhausting! The experience of keeping up with dates, medications, and attempting to manage yourself under these conditions is more than one person can handle. When we add others individuals into this type of situation the patient now has additional stresses. Even when it is family members that are attempting to give aid by handling household bills, or helping the patient to keep track of their scheduled appointments or treatments is frustrating. I am smiling as I type this sentence because I'm thinking to myself, this is frustrating to the patient and to the care giver too. Frustration on both ends of the spectrum, now that's a mess! Handing major illness and sickness challenges everything about us. Being sick with the flu, dealing with shingles, having a pain in your knee or experiencing pain in your back are all challenging. Personally having to use a medication dispenser with morning, noon, evening and bedtime labeling is one sign of the medical situation challenges. In a funny way there are many learning opportunities from such experiences. For example, when I came home from the nursing home my mother had purchased a medication dispenser. This tool we used and I am still using, to keep me on schedule with certain medications at specific times. One thing I've learned that is funny to me is the many options available to purchase. That is options on medication dispensers you can buy. I learned about all the options because I had a change in one of the medications I was taking. These new pills are best described as 'horse pills'. Country folks will know what I mean in describing them this way. For the city folks reading my column 'horse pills' is a mountain way of saying the pills are so large they would gag a horse when swallowed. Challenges are those moments or situations in our lives where we must think objectively, weigh out options and consider consequences. Making decisions with respect to our individual health can be a challenging event. While ultimately we are able to make our own decisions the timing for such moments do not always arrive when we are able to take our time and think our situation through with no rush for judgement. Thankfully prior to being ill or emergency issues we have legal options. These options allow us plenty of time for considering our wishes, preferences and health plans. Everyone needs a 'Last Will and Testament'. No one wants to talk about dying or death but this is a true reality that must be talked about and planned with preparations. A health 'Living Will' is most important too, along with a designated 'Health Surrogate'. That person is able to make health decisions for us when we are unable to do so. Granting 'Power of Attorney' so your personal affairs can be attended to in your absence while you are still alive is an absolute must. These subjects are not easy conversations but they are necessary. Every individual 18 years of age should have at least these four documents signed, notarized, and in a place where those trusted have access to these documents. Make your health care decisions while you are able. Discuss your thoughts and actions about eternity too. All of these decisions I have squared away. Knowing I have empowered others to act on my behalf was easy for me. Jesus Christ acted on my behalf on a cross at Calvary. Having personally discovered the satisfaction of knowing Jesus and I have eternal matters settled, making these earthly decisions were important too. Leaving behind answers to questions, directions and personal thoughts I believe is a part of God's Plan and a part of His peace that remains once we are gone. Until then

Believing & Faith

Who likes talking about the weather? The most popular comment often made by folks regarding the weather is that the meteorologist "never get anything right". The weather report calls for sunshine and it rains. The prediction for the weekend is gloomy and the weather is perfect. We have all experienced those types of weather moments. Looking at a 7 or 10 day weather forecast and planning is something we all do but with little stock that it will be correct. There are plenty of professions that have good and bad predictions but I'm pretty confident that the weather report brings out the 'nay-say' in us as far as believability is concerned. Believing can be a real challenge because we are asked to demonstrate our faith about something that has yet to occur. Believing the Bible describes as being able to see that which at the moment, you cannot see physically. One might suggest that if we don't believe, or refuse to give any belief to the weather forecast it might be impossible to believe in a God that is yet unseen by our human eyes. After all, seeing is believing or at least that is the practice of some individuals that I know. As for me personally, I remember the moment that I believed in God and the practice of my then new Christian faith. My first experience with faith came through my relationship with my parents. My parents made promises like many parents do. Do you remember your parents saying "if you do this then they will respond with....". These conversations were my first lessons in faith. My parents did what they said so the foundation was established early in my life about believing and having faith. My faith as a child was a simple. If I would do as I was told rewards would often be handed out by my parents. Childlike faith is more than basic faith. Childlike faith becomes the testing ground for every decision to believe and for ever action that requires faith. As an adult it is this childlike foundation of faith that has grown with my experiments as a teenager and adult. The issue of Christian faith revolves around one question. Will the practice of this faith about Jesus Christ lead to eternal life and a place the Bible calls Heaven? Christian's practice a belief that because of what Jesus did on the cross our sins are forgiven forever. By believing in Him our actions should tell the story of Jesus Christ and His love. Anyone can receive this forgiveness too. It is a free gift to all! John 3:16 says, 'For whosoever" and this includes every person on the earth, red, yellow, black and white. Me and Jesus had a talk that began in 1972 and this conversation has continued to grow throughout the years. My faith began as a child and today it continues as an adult. As for my faith, I believe more in Jesus today than ever before. While I have not yet seen Him personally, face to face yet, I look forward to that day when the realization of my faith will be made whole. Until then

Citizenship in the USA - 4th of July

Happening throughout the world are battles between governments, people groups dedicated to a single cause, waring fractions and splinter organizations committed to their political points of view. Some of these battles are being fought on religious grounds and beliefs. Throughout the history of the world we have seen these types of events and we in the United States of America have our history beginning with such a conflict with a declaration of our independence from Great Britain in 1776. The birth of America was an idea of a free and independent nation that allowed her citizens to live freely, to worship God supremely and to do so without undue restriction and ternary. The freedom that was carved out between our founding father's also included the freedom to no worship God but there was no doubt in the responsibility of citizenship that was to be embraced no matter one's political or religiously held beliefs. On this year's 4th of July Celebration I believe there needs to be a resurgence of Citizenship and a love for the U.S.A. developed among we citizens. Watching the news, listen to the radio commentary one can easily see the belief held by individuals that believe they can do whatever they want, whenever they want with no accountability or responsibility for their actions. America belongs to all of us and when one part of us is being burned there is another part of us that is hurting and weeping. Weeping is the word to use too. I weep when I see citizens disrespecting authorities. I believe that the President of the United States needs to always be addressed as Mr. President. This belief I practice when I agree or disagree with their leadership. As for elected officials, they receive citizenships highest honor when elected to public office. I also believe they are to serve all the people not just 'liked kind'. Citizenship carries with it responsibilities to be engaged and involved. Voting being an example of engaged and involved. America is strongest at her biggest arguments and disagreements but our unity and love for country should easily been seen in our actions and heard in our words of protest and debate. Freedom is a word that creates images of sacrifice, dedication and great cost in my mind. Freedom is the word that defines America and the rights of her citizens too. On this 4th of July while enjoying the fireworks, watermelon, and reunions remember that this date is a historical date that deserves our reflection and a thought of our individual duty as citizens. It is our duty to build positively on the foundation that was laid by those who came this way before us. I pray for America and that our next history will record our unity to Country, Citizenship and Cause that waves proudly the Red, White and Blue. Until then