Celebrating Jesus!

          Every year we share a letter sharing some of our highlights of the past year and I have decided this year to share it with you on my blog.  Please accept our wishes for a blessed Christmas and a great new year.  Please remember that Jesus is the reason for the season.

          "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want."  Psalm 23 has become more meaningful to us during this Pandemic than ever before.  Indeed the Lord has provided all that we have needed during these months of isolation and we thank Him for His provision and faithfulness.

          The year has held many challenges for us including a fire.  Fortunately, nobody was hurt and a rehabilitation service has helped us get back to normal.  The year also contained many physical challenges for us.  We have seen many doctors, had dozens of tests, ultrasounds, CT scans, MRI's, procedures and surgeries.  In October Barry had 25 kidney stones removed.  We're fortunate to have so many good doctors and medical facilities here in Lancaster County, although I think we may have used too many of them.

          We have missed being with our family during the past year of isolation.  Our three sons have been battling to keep their businesses operating during current limitations and cases of Covid among their employees.   We did get to spend a little time with family in October when Taylor married Daniel Cetnar in an outdoor wedding on a beautiful fall day.  They are living in State College where Taylor continues to serve with Disciplemakers and Daniel is completing his work on his Doctor's Degree in chemical engineering.  Both are at Penn State.

         Our daughters-in-law and grandchildren are following safety recommendations and are doing well.  Our oldest grandson, Zachary, has been a tremendous help to us, cutting our grass, gathering our many leaves and doing jobs that we can no longer do ourselves.  Joshua continues to work on his Doctor's Degree in chemistry at Penn State.  His brother, Noah, graduated from Lebanon Valley College and is now in his first year of medical school.  Chloe continues her studies in the honors program at Messiah College.  Her sister, Lexie, is a junior at Conestoga Valley and is serving as editor of the school's newspaper.  Her brother, Brodie, is a 9^th grader at CV.  He has grown several inches during the Pandemic and now is almost as tall as his dad.

          We have also missed our church family and our former ministries.  Our doctors have advised us not to attend church because of our physical conditions and we have obeyed their warnings. And while masks are suggested they are not required.  We do watch our church's streaming services and we continue to manage our church e-mail prayer chain.  Barry continues to reach folks around the world with his weekly hymn blog (barryshymns.blogspot.com).

          In 2020, like many of you, we have learned to do many normal things in different ways.  We are using online shopping for our foods and many other purchases.  And we have had more time to study the Bible and pray.  We are praying for others, praying that God can still use us, praying that we will all be spared from Covid and that in 2021 things will return to "normal".  Or even better yet, maybe this will be the year that Jesus comes.  What a marvelous solution that would be!

        We don't know what the coming months will hold but we do know that God is in control and holds our future.  Great is His faithfulness!  "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still waters, He restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake … surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."

God Is Still On The Throne

           One of the most common phrases shared recently by Christians is "God is still on the throne".  Covid and the recent election results have again made this a common reminder and encouragement.  Back on October 9, 2016 I shared a blog in my weekly hymn blog about a hymn with that title.  I've decided that with current world events that I am going to share parts of this blog once again. Maybe we need this reminder today.

          We live in a world that is in turmoil.  Terrorism, radical Islam and increasing crime threaten all of us.  Attacks on Christianity are becoming more common in today's culture.  The economy threatens jobs and savings.  Earthquakes, fires, hurricanes and tornados spread destruction.  And politics in the USA are just crazy.  And now there is Covid.

          And at times even believers find themselves wondering where God is in all of this turmoil.  Is He still in control?   But that isn't a new question.  David's enemies mocked him with that very question: "Where is your God?" (Psalm 42:3, 10).   But the truth is that God is still on the throne.  

          We know the Lord reigns, and reigns forever, because it is clearly taught in the Word of God.  It's something we also know by faith.  "The LORD is King forever and ever" (Psalm 10:16; 29:10). "The LORD shall reign forever" (Psalm 146:10). "The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all" (Psalm 103:19). "Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom" (Psalm 145:13). "Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen" (I Timothy 1:17). 

          God is indeed still enthroned in glory, and nothing happens to us that is beyond His knowledge, sovereign control and ability to turn to a good purpose. Further, we know that one day He'll return, and make all things right (Acts 1:10 -11).  

          I was looking for a theme chorus for a retreat that I was leading at Pinebrook Bible Conference when I came upon this week's hymn choice.  I remember often hearing it sung in prayer meetings when I was growing up.  It is an important reminder to believers that, even in these difficult times, God is still on the throne and He cares for His own.  And someday we will reign with Him in a perfect time and place. In the meantime He remembers us and will not forget us.  He gives us the strength and wisdom that we need for our daily living.  

          The words and music to this hymn were written in 1929 by Kittie L. Suffield (1884 - 1972). Before her conversion, at the age of nineteen, she had hopes of becoming a concert artist, either as a coloratura soprano or a pianist. But when she came to Christ, she dedicated all of her gifts to His service. 

          How she and her husband met is an interesting story. Fred Suffield, a Canadian, was awakened one night by an urgent pounding on his door. The caller reported that a train had been stalled nearby in the blizzard conditions that winter night. The caller feared the passengers were in danger of freezing to death. Suffield went to the train and invited them all back to his house. One of them, Kitty Jennett, wrote a note to thank him for his kindness, and out of that, and some exchanged correspondence, a relationship developed.  The two were later brought to Christ at a church in Ottawa by the pastor, A. J. Shea.  Kitty Suffield was instrumental in encouraging the pastor's teen-aged son to use his voice to sing God's praises. His name was George Beverly Shea. Kitty and her preacher husband eventually formed a much traveled evangelistic team, sometimes with Shea.  In addition to this hymn, she also wrote "Little Is Much When God Is in It."   

         Maybe this week's hymn choice is a reminder that you need this week.  Are you worried, anxious, distressed?  Then be reminded that God has a plan for this world and for believers and He is in complete control.  Theologian A.W. Pink states, "Divine sovereignty means that God is God in fact, as well as in name, that He is on the Throne of the universe directing all things."  This hymn reminds us of the Sovereignty of God. God is still on the throne no matter what happens in this world - even the November election in the United States. Give your burdens to Him and trust in Him knowing that He is all-knowing, all-powerful, always present and that He promises and gives peace beyond all understanding.  Trust Him for God is still on the throne.

1.     Have you started for glory and Heaven?

Have you left this old world far behind?

In your heart is the Comforter dwelling?

Can you say, "Praise the Lord, He is mine"?

Have the ones that once walked on the highway

Gone back, and you seem all alone?

Keep your eyes on the prize, for the home in the skies;

God is still on the throne.

God is still on the throne,

And He will remember His own;

Tho' trials may press us and burdens distress us,

He never will leave us alone;

God is still on the throne,

He never forsaketh His own;

His promise is true, He will not forget you,

God is still on the throne.

2.     Burdened soul, is your heart growing weary

With the toil and the heat of the day?

Does it seem that your path is more thorny

As you journey along on life's way?

Go away and in secret before Him

Tell your grief to the Savior alone;

He will lighten your care, for He still answers prayer;

God is still on the throne.

God is still on the throne,

And He will remember His own;

Tho' trials may press us and burdens distress us,

He never will leave us alone;

God is still on the throne,

He never forsaketh His own;

His promise is true, He will not forget you,

God is still on the throne.

3.     You may live in a tent or a cottage,

Unnoticed by those who pass by;

But a mansion for you He is building

In that beautiful city on high;

It will outshine the wealth and the splendor

Of the richest on earth we have known;

He's the Architect true, and He's building for you;

God is still on the throne.

God is still on the throne,

And He will remember His own;

Tho' trials may press us and burdens distress us,

He never will leave us alone;

God is still on the throne,

He never forsaketh His own;

His promise is true, He will not forget you,

God is still on the throne.

4.     He is coming again, is the promise

To disciples when He went away;

In like manner as He has gone from you,

You will see Him returning some day;

Does His tarrying cause you to wonder,

Does it seem He's forgotten His own?

His promise is true, He is coming for you;

God is still on the throne.

God is still on the throne,

And He will remember His own;

Tho' trials may press us and burdens distress us,

He never will leave us alone;

God is still on the throne,

He never forsaketh His own;

His promise is true, He will not forget you,

God is still on the throne.

You can hear George Beverly Shea singing this hymn here.       LISTEN

All That I Need

          The pandemic has been hard on many of us ... isolation and loneliness, fear of catching the virus, adjustments in the ways we've always lived, wearing masks, social distancing, new ways of worship, changes in family celebrations, cancelation of sports, changes in education, etc.,  Who ever thought we would experience such times?

          But what has amazed me is the way that the Lord has used scripture to encourage me during these days.  Often the scriptures have been those that I've known and even memorized.  But the Lord has made them fresh and with applications that I've needed now.

          One of these is Psalm 23 which may be the best known scripture.  Recently I received an interesting explanation of Psalm 23 and I've decided to share it with you.  It is a great reminder of all that we have, even during a pandemic, thanks to our great Shepherd.  I hope that it is an encouragement to you.

THE 23RD PSALM  ...  (EXPLAINED)

The Lord is my Shepherd  ...  (that's relationship)

I shall not want  ...  (that's supply) 

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures  ...  (that's rest) 

He leadeth me beside the still waters  ... ( that's refreshment) 

He restoreth my soul  ...  (that's healing) 

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness  ...  (that's guidance) 

For His name sake  ...  (that's purpose) 

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death  ...  (that's testing) 

I will fear no evil  ...  (that's protection) 

For Thou art with me  ...  (that's faithfulness) 

Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me  ...  (that's discipline) 

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies  ...  (that's hope) 

Thou anointest my head with oil  ...  (that's consecration) 

My cup runneth over  ...  (that's abundance) 

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life  ...  (that's blessing) 

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord  ...  (that's security) 

Forever  ...  (that's eternity) 

1   The Lord's my Shepherd, I'll not want;

he makes me down to lie

in pastures green; he leadeth me

the quiet waters by.

2   My soul he doth restore again,

and me to walk doth make

within the paths of righteousness,

e'en for his own name's sake.

3   Yea, though I walk through death's dark vale,

yet will I fear none ill,

for thou art with me; and thy rod

and staff me comfort still.

4   My table thou hast furnished

in presence of my foes;

my head thou dost with oil anoint,

and my cup overflows.

5   Goodness and mercy all my life

shall surely follow me;

and in God's house forevermore

my dwelling place shall be.

Covid And Swine Pandemics

         The continuing pandemic continues to cause disagreement and various reactions.  We are becoming a mask vs. maskless society.  On Sunday we heard two different pastors pray for unity concerning the virus in their congregations and community.  Even many Christians can't agree on government recommendations.  Meanwhile Covid rages on.

          Recently somebody posted on Facebook a notice that appeared in a newspaper on November 7, 1918.  Part of it said "Notice is hereby given that, in order to prevent the spread of Spanish Influenza, all schools, public and private, churches, theatres, moving picture halls, pool rooms and other places of amusement, and lodge meetings, are to be closed until further notice.  All public gatherings consisting of ten or more are prohibited."  Did folks listen then?  I don't know.

          Since my grandfather died in this influenza, I have been very interested about it and have been doing some reading.  Here are a few of the things I have found.

           The 1918 H1N1 flu pandemic, sometimes referred to as the "Spanish flu," killed an estimated 50 million people worldwide, including an estimated 675,000 people in the United States.^.  An unusual characteristic of this virus was the high death rate it caused among healthy adults 15 to 34 years of age. The pandemic lowered the average life expectancy in the United States by more than 12 years.

           Reported cases of Spanish flu dropped off over the summer of 1918, and there was hope at the beginning of August that the virus had run its course. In retrospect, it was only the calm before the storm. Somewhere in Europe, a mutated strain of the Spanish flu virus had emerged that had the power to kill a perfectly healthy young man or woman within 24 hours of showing the first signs of infection.

          Not only was it shocking that healthy young men and women were dying by the millions worldwide, but it was also how they were dying. Struck with blistering fevers, nasal hemorrhaging and pneumonia, the patients would drown in their own fluid-filled lungs.

         By December 1918, the deadly second wave of the Spanish flu had finally passed, but the pandemic was far from over. A third wave erupted in Australia in January 1919 and eventually worked its way back to Europe and the United States. Even the U.S. president wasn't spared. In April 1919, shortly after arriving at the World War I peace negotiations in Paris, Woodrow Wilson became seriously ill with influenza-like symptoms. The White House covered up the severity of his condition, claiming Wilson had merely caught a cold from the rainy weather in Paris. Despite nearly derailing the talks, Wilson eventually fully recovered and returned to the U.S that July.  I found some interesting comments from folks who lived through those years.

         "Nearly every porch, every porch that I'd look at had — would have a casket box a sitting on it. And men a digging graves just as hard as they could and the mines had to shut down. There wasn't a nary a man, there wasn't a — there wasn't a mine a running a lump of coal or running no work. Stayed that away for about six weeks."  — Teamus Bartley, coal miner, Kentucky, 1987

 

          "My mother went and shaved the men and laid them out, thinking that they were going to be buried, you know. They wouldn't bury 'em. They had so many died that they keep putting them in garages … garages full of caskets."— Anne Van Dyke, Philadelphia, 1984

          "We were the only family saved from the influenza. The rest of the neighbors all were sick. … Directly across the street from us, a boy about 7, 8 years old died and they used to just pick you up and wrap you up in a sheet and put you in a patrol wagon. So the mother and father screaming, 'Let me get a macaroni box … Please, please, let me put him in the macaroni box. Let me put him in the box. Don't take him away like that.' (Pasta used to come in 20-pound boxes.) … 'Please, please, let me put him in the macaroni box. Let me put him in the box. Don't take him away like that.'"   Louise Apuchase, Philadelphia, 1987

  

        "That was the roughest time ever. Like I say, people would come up and look in your window and holler and see if you was still alive, is about all. They wouldn't come in."  — Glenn Holler, Conover, N.C., 1980

          "They were dying — many families losing one or more in their family. It was getting so bad, the deaths, they even, they had to use wagons drawn by two horses to carry people to the grave. I remember seeing them pass the house, seems like to me now it was every day. … At that time, when the phone would ring, when my mother or my father wanted to listen in, and they would turn to us, and they would name the person they just heard had died. It was night and day that you would hear about these people dying. My father never got the flu but he would go to town and buy groceries for the neighbors and take it to the front porch. And we didn't get the flu at all in our family, but it was terrible." — Robert McKinney Martin Jr., 1996

          "Another thing about it: people that die, the very stoutest of people. We had a fireman at the place I worked. I used to go out to the boiler room and smoke a cigarette. Me and him were pretty good friends. One day I went out there and they said he was sick. And I went out the next day and they said he was dead. They died just that quick."

 

          It was a sad, sad time.  Many lives were changed.  Families were devastated.  Could that happen again?  I fear that it could.  It is already happening.

          I am concerned that it appears that the American public is not willing to make sacrifices to protect the lives of others.  We argue over wearing masks, being separated, staying out of crowds, closing schools, calling off our trips and family gatherings.  We want our own way and don't want others to tell us what to do.  We try to continue just as though there is no danger.

           I doubt that with this new "American Spirit" this country could have survived all these years, especially through attacks from outside foes.  It seems like sacrifice is no longer part of our culture.  And that is sad!

 

 

Thanksgiving Memories

           2020 created a different Thanksgiving for our family.  Isolation because of the possibility of spreading Covid forced us to change and eliminate the family traditions that we have enjoyed for years.  Our family gatherings were a thing of the past, possibly never to return.                   

          We deeply missed being with our family members and sharing in a time of fellowship and enjoying a turkey dinner together.   I guess it helped us appreciate even more the many years that we could gather and enjoy our time together.  Zoom and telephone calls are a substitute, but a weak substitute.  

          But our separation did not keep us from being thankful for all that we have had and all that God has done for us.  I was especially reminded of some music that was part of our lives in years now gone.  For example, when we led Bible schools and meetings for children, we had a simple prayer chorus that we used frequently.  I can still hear the children singing these words.

For mother's love and father's care

For food to eat and clothes to wear

For home and friends and answered prayer

I thank Thee lord

But most of all my thanks shall be

That on the cross of Calvary

The Savior gave His life for me

I thank Thee Lord.

          In our early married years there was another song of thanksgiving that we often sang as a duet but have not heard for many years.  I searched for it on the internet and found that it was written in 1948 by Ruth G. Hallett.  The text was written by Ruth for her husband.  They were newlyweds and she was thanking God for all the things He had done for them.  Unfortunately I could not find a video or recording of the song, but here are the words.

Thank You, Jesus, for all You've done.

Thank You, Lord.

Thank You, Jesus, for vict'ries won,

O thank You, Lord. 

For Thy love and tender care,

For Thy Word and answered prayer.

Thank You, Jesus, for all You've done.

Thank You, Lord.

Thank You, Jesus, for love like Thine.

Thank You, Lord.

Thank You, Jesus, for grace divine.

O thank You, Lord. 

For Thy cross of Calvary,

For Thy blood that cleanseth me,

Thank You, Jesus, that Thou art mine.

Thank You, Lord.

But maybe the chorus that I missed the most this Thanksgiving was "The Blessing Song" written by Ruth Crawford.  This song has been a tradition in our family as long as I can remember.  It was sung every time our family, including grandparents, aunts and uncles and cousins gathered to eat.  I have so many great memories of the beautiful harmonies that would flood around the table.  We have continued that tradition with our family.  In fact it has become such a tradition that our son and daughter-in-law had it printed on a board for us as a Christmas present.  Today that gift hangs in our kitchen.

We thank Thee Lord for this our food,

God is love

But most of all for Jesus' blood

God is love!  God is love!

These mercies bless and grant that we

May live and feast and reign with Thee,

May live and feast and reign with Thee

God is love!  God is love!

God has been so good to us over the years.  I thank Him for the many blessings and memories that He has provided us.  God is so good, He's so good to me.

        

So Long Fall!

Our Beautiful Maple

          Sadly my favorite season is quickly coming to an end.  The beautiful colorful leaves are almost gone.  Winter with its cold winds and snow and ice is approaching too quickly.  Daylight hours are getting shorter.  But there are two major events that always come for us during these two months.  One of these involves the holidays, the other involves an annual task.

         This year my favorite holidays will be drastically different.  With the threat  of Covid, in an attempt to be safe, we will not have any of our traditional family celebrations.  We will all celebrate in our own separate homes and that will be very difficult, but necessary.

          Christmas Eve has always been my favorite family time.  That evening we used to go to Candlelight Services and then gather together in our home.  We would enjoy a great buffet and a special time of family fellowship.

         Then I would show a special DVD which I always made for the family highlighting the year's events.  I would also show one that I made 10 years previously and we would laugh and enjoy how much we have all changed over those years.

          Next came a time of worship ... reading the Christmas story from Luke ...  praying for the family, thanking the Lord for His presence and blessings during the past year and asking for His guidance in the coming year.  Then we would exchange presents around the tree.

          This year we have decided to go with a new 4.5 ft. artificial tree since it will involve less preparation and cleanup than the former larger tree did.  And nobody else but us will see it.

          Now speaking of trees, they are what create our second major event of this time.  Over the years we planted several dozen trees on our property.  My father warned me that someday I would regret doing this.  And he was right.  We have had to remove many of them at a cost of thousands of dollars.  We still have about a dozen left, many of which are too big and should be removed.  But now that I am retired we just don't have the funds to do this.

          Most of those that remain are pine trees which don't take too much care. And lantern flies don't seem to bother them. We did need to take down a huge oak a few years ago and that was very expensive.

          The one major hardwood that we still have is a huge maple next to our house.  In the summer it gives shade and in the fall it is beautiful.  But it does not drop its leaves until about Thanksgiving.  Then we have piles to get rid of.  Our township will take them without charge if we can get them to the street, but they stop taking them the first week of December.  So it is a waiting game to see if they fall in time for us to collect them for removal.

          Fortunately our lawn tractor can be used to gather them if they aren't wet.  But, unfortunately, physically I've gotten to the point where I can't do it anymore.  The entire family used to help us when we were all here for Thanksgiving dinner.  But that is no more.

          The year that my mother was killed in a November accident, a family from church surprised us and showed up when we weren't home and cleaned up all the leaves that had fallen.  What a marvelous gift that was and we have never forgotten it.

          So far this year we have gathered them three times. However, I shouldn't say "we".  Two times my oldest grandson and his mother spent over an hour working on them.  The other time it was my youngest son and my youngest granddaughter who spent about two hours working on them.  We will need to attack this job at least one and maybe two more times this year.  

          So trees have become an integral part of our lives.  We still have the leaves to collect but then we can look forward to another year of beauty when it blooms again in the Spring, gives shade in the Summer and then changes in the Fall  And that always reminds us of God's care and provision for us in all the seasons of our lives.

TREES 

by Joyce Kilmer

I think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is pressed

Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in Summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

Dear Milkman

A long time ago, when milk was delivered to the door by a milkman, people would sometimes leave notes. The following are some of those notes received by milkmen and preserved for our entertainment today.

  *  "Dear Milkman, I've just had a baby, please leave another one."

  

*  "Please leave an extra pint of paralyzed milk."

  

*  "Please don't leave any more milk. All they do is drink it"

  

*  "Milkman please close the gate behind you because the birds keep pecking the tops off the milk."

  

*  "Sorry not to have paid your bill before, but my wife had a baby and I've been carrying it around in my pocket for weeks."

 

 *  "Sorry about yesterday's note. I didn't mean one egg and a dozen pints, but the other way round."

 

 *  "When you leave my milk knock on my bedroom window and wake me because I want you to give me a hand to turn the mattress."

 

 *  My daughter says she wants a milkshake. Do you do it before you deliver or do I have to shake the bottle."

  

*  "Please send me a form for cheap milk, for I have a baby two months old and did not know about it until a neighbor told me."

 

 *  "Milk is needed for the baby. Father is unable to supply it."

  

*  "From now on please leave two pints every other day and one pint on the days in between, except Wednesdays and Saturdays when I don't want any milk."

  

*  My back door is open. Please put milk in fridge, get money out of cup in drawer and leave change on kitchen table, because we want to play bingo tonight."

  *  "Please leave no milk today. When I say today, I mean tomorrow, for I wrote this note yesterday or is it today?"

 

 *  "When you come with the milk please put the coal on the boiler, let dog out and put newspaper inside the screen door. PS. Don't leave any milk."

  

*  "No milk. Please do not leave milk at No. 14 either as he is dead until further notice.

(This was posted in memory of our former milkman and friend, Al Charles, who also served with us in Awana for 30 years.)

Wellness

          Medical insurance is a major concern for everyone.  Insurance can be very expensive and it often comes with many exclusions and limits.  But can you afford to be without it?

          For seniors, like us, the only real choice is Medicare.  We have been on Medicare for about 15 years and we have no complaints except possibly for its cost.  And most seniors also need to purchase a supplemental policy to cover the usual 20% of costs not covered by Medicare.

          While some may complain about this national plan, we certainly can't.  With only a few minor exceptions it has covered our needs and we have been happy.  However it and our supplemental plan do cost us about $900 a month for coverage, including drug coverage, and that is a major chunk of our retirement income.  But what other choice do you really have as your physical needs increase as you age?

          But Medicare does include a few things which I think are a waste of money.  One of these is their annual Wellness Visit.  Maybe it is a good idea on paper, but it is worthless in real life.

          My first wellness visit was in the doctor's office.  After I was seated, the nurse told me to stand up and walk to the hall.  I did that and then realized that she was actually timing me to see how long that would take.  Had I known I was being timed I could have moved much faster.  Apparently this part of the test has been eliminated.

          Then I was asked a series of questions - What year is it?  What month is it?  What day is it?  It was interesting that a large calendar was hanging right behind her where I could easily see it.  That part of the test continues today.  However now that part of the test is done on the phone which makes it easier to cheat - if you need to.

           Additional questions included - Do you smoke?  Do you drink?  Do you use drugs?  Do you use safety belts in your car?  Do you have smoke detectors or carbon monoxide monitors?  Are the batteries current?  Have you fallen in the past year?  Do you have throw rugs in your home?  Do you have safety bars in your bathroom?  Can you dress yourself?  Can you feed yourself?  Do you have help at home?  Do you have stairs?  How many steps are there?  Can you climb your steps without getting out of breath?  Do you feel safe at home?  Can you use a sweeper?  Do you need a walker and if so, how often do you use it?  How many times a week do you have sex?  - Oh, no, they don't ask that question, but they might get some interesting answers if they did.

          Now some of these questions are good and probably helpful.  But how often do people really tell the truth?  For example, are they going to be honest about their use of alcohol and drugs?  Are they going to admit to falling?   It's almost like all those questions you must now answer during Covid to be admitted to a medical facility.  Can you really trust the answers people give?

          Actually, I almost failed my first Wellness Test.  The nurse asked me to repeat after her three words, one at a time, - apple, table and penny.  I assumed that this was a hearing test - I would think a normal part of checking one's wellness would be checking hearing. I repeated them correctly.  But a little later she surprised me by asking me to repeat those three words.  I could only remember two of them since I didn't realize I was to memorize them.

          Now I ace this part of the test since I've found that Medicare never changes these three words.  They have been the same every year I've taken this test.  So I'm not a dummy, I'm ready with "apple, table, penny"!

          Well I passed my annual test in October.  I even remembered the three words correctly.  Will I be able to do it again in 2021?

          But there is one good thing about the visit and test.  Medicare doesn't charge for it.  So I guess that makes me feel a little better about the $900 a month I spend for health care.

Gratitude

        Every once in awhile I receive an e-mail from somebody that I think might be worth sharing. So this week I am sharing one that I think has some excellent comments for all of us to consider.  Unfortunately I don't know the source or the author.  But here it is.

           Here's Today's Tip... Gratitude.  "If you learn to appreciate more of what you already have, you'll find yourself having more to appreciate." - Michael Angier

          What if there was something that was both simple AND that could radically transform you, your life, your relationships, and your health?  Would that be something you'd be interested in? 

         We thought so.  Believe it or not, this "something" that we're talking about is gratitude, and yes, it really is that powerful. Research has shown that practicing gratitude can:

     *  Elevate your mood

     *  Reduce feelings of depression

     *  Help you feel more connected

     *  Help you become a better, more likable, more trustworthy person

     *  Lower levels of inflammation

     *  Reduce anxiety

     *  Boost energy levels

     *  Reduce the severity/symptoms of illness

     *  Improve your sleep

     *  Helps you develop stronger bonds and relationships

 Simply put, giving thanks can make you happier, and by helping you get outside of yourself, stop being self-centered, and become other-focused, gratitude can help you get away from ruts, setbacks, and self-pity. It may also make you more successful.

         According to legendary pastor and leadership and management expert John C. Maxwell, gratitude, by its very nature, automatically works to eliminate three mental characteristics that most undermine individual success in an interactive world:

     *  Isolation

     *  Egotism

     *  Arrogance

 Maxwell also talks about how gratitude can enrich your life:

     *  Grateful people linger over life's blessings

     *  Grateful people live in the moment

     *  Grateful people leave fear behind

     *  Grateful people live on purpose

     *  Grateful people love those beside them

          So, how do you put gratitude into practice? Great question. In a New York Times article, Arthur C. Brooks, author of Gross National Happiness, suggests practicing three gratitude strategies to tap into its powerful benefits:

     *  Interior gratitude: Keep a daily or weekly list of the things you are grateful for. For example, each day you might write down 1 - 3 people or things you are grateful for.

     *  Exterior gratitude: Write thank-you notes and share your gratitude with others. These can be handwritten notes, phone calls, e-mails, or text messages.

     *  "Be grateful for useless things": Mindfully express thanks for the everyday stuff that we too often take for granted, like running water, air conditioning, washing machines, etc.

          So during this historic pandemic maybe we need to concentrate on showing gratitude.  It can make a real difference to others and especially to yourself

"In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."