flameofhealing.com

February 19, 2011   Letting Go of the World of Illness

   Too often the focus of life is on the myriad of illnesses that can plague humanity. I sure have fallen into that trap. Diabetes, fibromyalgia, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, depression and any big toe pain that I happen to feel have all been a part of my repertoire of illnesses. It is easy to focus on how much the body hurts, how bad the pain is and how depressing it all is. Pain is very real and I would not minimize the level of discomfort that really does happen. Nevertheless, I have found another way to live that does not focus on the pain, but instead reaches out for even the smallest joy. Today, even though it was cold, it was sunny and bright. My rose bush is beginning to show tiny leaves and buds, displaying the promise of renewed beauty. Last summer, I moved some irises and left room for new growth. I took a peek today and every one of the irises that I planted has at least 4 new irises coming up beside it. The funny thing is that the weeds are flocking around the flowerbed too. When I look beyond myself to help another person, a neighbor or friend, it helps me to not even think about how I might be hurting. I’m also much more open to find natural ways to take care of my body, trying new things, new to me anyway, to naturally lower blood sugar and to help fend off things like the cold virus that are always going around. The very best thing for me is to focus on the absolute truth of God’s love and peace; if I focus on that, I don’t have as much interest in focusing on pain. Sometimes, in my conversation with friends, it is easy to talk about all the different pains that are happening currently. Wow, what if I put as much energy into sharing the truth of God’s love! It’s an area of life I still want to grow in.

February 16, 2011   Fickle Emotions!

   Today was a good day; my emotions behaved themselves. I accomplished a lot, cleaning, cooking, making important phone calls and a couple of hours writing. Yesterday was the opposite; my emotions tanked and I felt the cloud of depression settle over me. I accomplished nothing and was frustrated at myself for allowing that to happen again. It’s a daily journey, this roller coaster ride of fickle emotions. If I start out well, with a plan in place to do the work that is so important to me, most of the time I can avoid derailing into an emotional pit. I start every day in the Word of God; it’s the best beginning possible for all of life. From there, a bunch of decisions are before me; good choices lead to a positive check on the emotions. Poor choices, like eating things too high in carbs, often lead to the emotional swings. It’s a bit strange that something physical like what I eat influences my emotions, but that’s what happens. Other not-so-good choices that affect my emotions and daily productivity are playing computer games before beginning my writing project for the day and getting sidetracked by the television. My struggle is too often self-imposed. I’m asking God for His grace each day to develop good habits, both physically and emotionally, one choice at a time. I still make mistakes, and there certainly are consequences. But little by little, I am making progress. Years of horrible choices are not switched automatically. I thank my Lord for every day of success over those fickle emotions!

February 14, 2011  Success Redefined

The little girl in me remembers…

   longing for peace within the home,

   searching for the purpose of my life,

   grasping for love – for it seemed to flutter by like a butterfly.

The woman that I’ve grown to be…

   cherishes the peace I’ve been given in my home,

   rejoices in the fulfillment of God’s purpose for my life,

   loves deeply and rests in the love given to me.

February 10, 2011   Saying Goodbye to Pain

   I’ve struggled for years in one area of my life. Exercise has been extremely painful because of fibromyalgia. I could only do about a half hour of mild exercise a day and then I was limited the rest of the day to barely moving. If I attempted to do more, I suffered quite a bit and could even be unable to do much for several days. On moving days for example, when I tried to complete last minute packing, move boxes, unpack and do some cleaning, inevitably I would be in tremendous pain for days and unable to move. Muscle relaxing medication was my good friend; without it I could do nothing. About two months ago, a dear friend prayed over me, seeking God for healing of my body. From that evening, the fibromyalgia was gone. My muscles had been so atrophied that building them up has been the beginning of a new way of life. I started going to a water aerobics class at a local health club. I attended one of these classes years ago and wound up down in bed for a week. I started slow, with only 1 class a week, then two – adding each as my muscles gained some tone. Now I am going three days a week, with no pain! My muscles are still building in tone and I sure feel better! I do get worn out a bit, but with care, I will be able to do more as time goes. I feel better physically than I have since my childhood! It is truly a miracle for me to be able to move without pain.

February 4, 2011   Dance for Life

   Two ladies prayed, one a young college girl for someone who would love her and she could love, the other a mother for her son to have someone who would love him and he could love. Both prayers were answered at an all night college dance. The young gal and fella met and were quite inseparable from that first night. Later that same year, they married and then had three children. With the growth of their children, they found a maturing in themselves; they learned to love, to forgive, to be willing to change and to cherish the moments of life. They find themselves now as grandparents and so close in relationship that they often finish each other’s sentences. They cherish each moment and memory with each other and with family and friends. Neither knew that one dance would lead to a lifetime of love, but it has.

January 30, 2011     Life Abundant

There once was a family of despair,

   of raging pain, of constant lashing out.

Then came the years of denial,

   of learning what “normal” is.

Imperceptively at first, tiny baby steps

   of healing ventured forth.

It didn’t even feel right,

   for despair had become the norm.

Like aloe-vera cooling and easing burned souls,

   God’s healing love began to permeate.

Deep apologies from our lips, gut-wrenching acknowledgements

   of actual pain inflicted upon each other.

Unchartered ground lay before us; each month and year holding before us,

   more tenderness, more love.

Life abundant for this family

   of three brothers and two sisters.