I'm done with negativity.

Faith Hope and Love

The greatest of these is love

Am I really the only person absolutely DONE with all the negativity around this virus which is not only causing physical illness but mass hysteria as well?

There isn’t a tv channel, news or current affairs programme that isn’t promoting, yes promoting DOOM AND GLOOM and the ‘end is neigh’ visions. It is helping making people sick.

Yes, I understand there is a huge ugly virus out there. I also know that people have died, as people do. I know we need to be vigilant and more secure with our cleanliness and personal hygiene. Should have always been. This a wake-up call to those who need a lesson in personal hygiene.

Common sense seems to have left the building. Did you, in the past, really visit sick in hospital or the elderly if you had a cold or are unwell? REALLY? Well silly you. Isn’t that a thoughtless act on your part? Virus or not. That is just NOT DONE! EVER!

OK, let’s get back to my heading.

Faith: call it what suits you best. I believe in my God and you probably have a belief in whom or whatever is your Mainstay in this world. This belief gives me a sense of wellbeing and positive energy. It gives me confidence that whatever unsettling thing is happening that there will be a solution. Call me naïve if you must. I receive a large amount of peace from this belief. Rather than the panic which seems to have so many in it’s vice like grip. Of-course I am being sensible, cautious and protective- to a point where it doesn’t overrule my common sense.

I have FAITH and HOPE in and LOVE for the scientists and researchers who are working round the clock to find a tool to fight this viral yuk invader of our system. Each day more information about treatment, prevention, precautions are made known. I firmly believe they will beat this virus and it’s deadly sting. As they will the next virus that may appear in the future.

I have FAITH and HOPE in the medical world to assist in healing, nursing, protecting and caring for our sick. What a LOVE they must have in their hearts for those who suffer. And this includes also the very professional, protective and knowledgeable people in government, whose task I do not envy, in making decisions to protect their country and its inhabitants. Every step they take has been well thought out, tested and weighed up against the information to hand AT THAT POINT IN TIME. I am HOPEFUL that their decisions will benefit us in this current situation.

I have FAITH, HOPE and LOVE in and for the people who adhere to the warnings, walk the required walk of sensibility and common sense. Those who support others in whatever way possible to also be a tool in helping to restore our world to some form of normality. Especially those who spread the good cheer, positiveness and calm we all need so much at the moment.

FAITH, HOPE and LOVE

Where there is life there is HOPE. And let’s not forget that. Hope for a future, hope for a return to health, hope to have learnt and be more knowledgeable in future moments of uncertainty.

Hope that people will retain their sense of caring for one and other. Hope for compassion and understanding.

Hope that those bringing information to the wider community realise they have power to bring people together. To bring that HOPE to the world by not only reporting on negative aspects but highlighting the victories, every step to finding a solution, a return to health buy those affected.

LOVE, the greatest of these is LOVE. Like the song says: “What the word needs now, is LOVE SWEET LOVE”. It will make us better people.

Love for each other, love to conquer, to unite, to bind, to assist, to bring joy. Love to share.

I want to read about those who are healed, who have survived and won the battle. Those who have helped in whatever way necessary. I want to celebrate LIFE, even when things get tough.

Advent: Week IV - It is getting closer

Well, here we are, the 4th Sunday in Advent.

And where am I in the preparations? At this point in time my home and it's contents are in disarray. In a matter of days we will be leaving this home for another one - leaving neighbours who will then be friends to visit. Starting somewhere new - looking for permanence knowing that nothing in life is.

We aim to make this our ' last move' with the intention of spending the years we have left, at this address, surrounded by those who will become our new neighbours, of whom some will become friends.

During the past three weeks whilst sanding, painting, scraping, wallpapering and shopping I have been very conscious of this Advent Season. Not only because I chose to focus AND write about the subject from my point of view - but watching, hearing and experiencing people's activities around me. Their preparations, hectic lives and diaries. Rushing here and there like busy ants - gathering, organising, planning their up and coming festivities.

What was a re-occurring subject however was: the 'lost' contact with someone they loved, cared for and who had been a part of their lives. Be it a brother, sister, parent, niece, nephew, aunt, uncle, neighbour or friend. Someone they had fallen out with for whatever reason. This person missing from the card list, table and home.

I too have lost the friendship and love of someone close. To this day - it continues to niggle, stab, unsettle and cause sadness and unrest in my body. It is an indescribable missing you feeling.

How to bridge the gap? There have been attempts - to no avail. DO I try again?

I bring you PEACE - let PEACE be with you - are Jesus' words to us ALL. 

In homes, families, at work, school, on the playground, in clubs and neighbourhoods, in villages and cities, in countries - PEACE be with US ALL.

How to bring about this peace I miss? I will reach out with a Christmas Peace message of:

HOPE

LOVE

JOY

PEACE

and pray it will be received in the spirit of the season.

Is their someone you miss, or want back in your life? Now might just be that moment..... let these next few days give you the encouragement to reach out - not looking at who is responsible for the break - but looking to bridge that gap and healing the relationship.

Imagine that there is PEACE in the hearts of ALL - Oh just IMAGINE.

Wishing all my readers every blessing this Yuletide season of 

 HOPE, LOVE, JOY and PEACE.

My friends in prayer

Dear friends who pray

I have a request - a prayerful request.

A friend of mine has shingles in a most unusual but painful spot.

In her EAR! Yes, you read that correctly, in her ear.

The symptoms are terrible.

Lots of pain, loss of balance, but more worrying ( what could be more worrying than pain?) is that she has a partial paralyses of her face.

This may or may not be permanent.

The specialist sent her home with medication and the advice to;

" go home, light a candle and pray".

So, dear people, please join her, her family and her friends and let's ALL pray.

Pray for TOTAL healing.

Thank you....

The encounter - part VII

...And what a talk we had! All issues passed the revue. Once we had agreed on a number of points and decided on a  new tact- my husband went outside, barefoot and all and pulled the for sale sign out of the garden, placed it on the terrace and said, " now let's have that drink. Gee that feels good!"

We have decided to take a step back and let the plans to shift go for the time being. We know and are realistic enough to understand the need for 'something'  which needs to happen to secure our future. Whether is be move, find a new form of income, or whatever- we need to 're-group' and take a step back. The past 3 years have brought many chances and challenges our way. We need some quiet time, some sober and clear headed time to get a clearer picture of ' what next Lord!"

Am I relieved? Well, it is a bit early for that. I am really pleased that my husband has finally relaxed some and that is surely worth something. Yes, there are many of life's 'issues' at hand but I will peace with those also. Space to have the opportunity to do what is appropriate and right for us.

And if you think- oh now all her ills will have disappeared too! Then think again. I still felt drained, squeamish, sore and ached all over. It will take some time to re-settle my mind as well as my body. It has been a rough ride.

A few days have since passed. My body is getting stronger and my mental state has improved no end. I did go for the medical checkup everyone advised me on- and yes, my fears were grounded. The kidneys are playing up, but now I know what the problem is I can attend to it. Due to my history my kidneys are under scrutiny- just to be safe.

Given the knowledge that I have The Book to dive into for wisdom and encouragement- and I do and did read in it plenty, I did find myself fighting a battle I wasn't 'man enough'  to win- not on my own. With God at my side I was able to conquer. His presence is something I don't want to take for granted and will  certainly concentrate more fully on. I know I matter.

The first morning I felt somewhat better and surfaced with intend to stay up all day- I picked up The Book and randomly opened it to find this passage:

Romans - The power of the Good News (1:6)

Greetings from Paul, a servant of Jesus the Messiah, called to be an apostle ( so am I) and set apart for God’s gospel, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son. He was a descendant of David with respect to his humanity and was declared by the resurrection from the dead to be the powerful Son of God according to the spirit of holiness—Jesus the Messiah, our Lord. Through him we( I) received grace and a commission as an apostle to bring about faithful obedience among all the gentiles for the sake of his name. You ( me ), too, are among those who have been called to belong to Jesus the Messiah.

I BELONG to God and no other. Hard work awaits me to restore my relationship to Him and show that I trust in His will. His mercy will be on me- as long as I allow it to be. His light will shine on the path I am to follow.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Amen

Memories and emotions

What a day, what a beautiful day. The weather was beautiful, got quite a tan. We spent the whole day home, in the deck at water's edge lazing, reading, fluffing sbout. It has been months simce we have been able to do that. What a treat.

It has been a week of emotions. So many different ones it has become a jumble inside. Needed today to untangle them I think. It hardly seems possible that Mitch died 2 years ago, yet a lifetime of events have happened since then. Summah and Indi have been born, mum died as did a number of others close to me. Job gone, health has been an issue but has improved no end now. What a see-saw of BIG things and emotions to work through.

What hit hardest about Mitchell apart from the fact that he isn't with us, and I truly and utterly deplore that. is that it shouldn't happen that a child leaves this world before it's parents. What weighed heavily on me is the pain in Ros and Reece's eyes. What still troubles me is Ros's pain and anguish. I wish I could help her be freed from the desperateness she is experiencing. She still experiences such accute lows.

True, to loose a child is devastating, to have lost him so tragically in such a horrific accident, has been harsh, cruel. Yet the inner peace she needs to carry on is still beyond her grasp.... Oh Ros you are so loved. Your two sons are so in need of you. Your husband so loves you. I wish you a year of rebuilding, of strength and hope. Ros, I love you like my own. I am here for you. Mitch has found his peace, nothing harmful will ever touch him again, he is free and in a good place where only peace and joy fill his days. He wants that for you too. I cry for you and about you.

These few days are in memory of Mitch and not a day goes by I don't think of him - teenager, searching where he fitted, rebelious, loving, cheeky, sparky, helpfull, beligerent, funny, serious, mixed up. Mitch you were all you were meant to be - an adolescent looking, searching for what life had to offer you. Looking for your own spot. Your 17 years with us was too short.... But long enough for us to know you, share with you and love you.

Rest in Peace Mitch and let that same peace descend upon your loving mum.