The Light Still Shines . . . Additional Reflections

For the third installment on dealing with the winter blues, I am once again going to share what helps me. This isn't a step-by-step path to sunny spirits. What helps me might help you--or might bring to mind things that would help you.

Singing. I have a hymnal on my night stand . . . as well as a Bible, a journal, a book of sudoku puzzles . . .. It helps me to pull out that hymnal and sing. Songs of praise seem particularly helpful. Here I'm singing with our friend Monika in Poland, 2022. Which reminds me of . . . 

Setting times to see friends/talk with family. Even though I'm a pretty strong introvert, it can be refreshing to connect with another human being. Perhaps especially because I'm a pretty strongly introverted, I sometimes make it a point to make an appointment to connect. 

Remembering my own sacred history.  When Keith and I were first married, we lived in a small town.  I had dreaded meeting someone from my past, though I knew the eventual encounter was probably inevitable since  this person had grown up in that town. Out of the blue, I dreamt about this person. In my dream, we had a brief but positive meeting. About a week later, I ran into this person on the street. They were back in town for a few days, and clearly nervous to see me. However, we did have a brief but positive interaction. To this day, I believe God used the dream to prepare me. And to this day, I remember how Keith reacted after I told him this story. Amazement at God's care, yes, followed by "and two weeks from now we'll wonder whether God loves us." 

After Joshua led the Israelites through the Jordan River, the Lord told them to stack up 12 stones, one for each tribe (Joshua 3 & 4). This would remind them of what God had done for them. And when future generations asked what that stack of stones was for, they could be told again about God's care for them. Jacob and Samuel did similar things (Genesis 28:18; 1 Samuel 7:13-14). I don't stack stones, but I do need to remember. 

The "thankful chain" our family makes each year is one way to do that. I'd be interested in hearing how you remember your own sacred history and how you share that with the next generation. But most of all, it would really be encouraging if you'd share one of your stories with me. 

Focusing on the Truth,

Mary 

 

The Light Still Shines . . . even through the winter blues . . .

Acknowledge emotions but focus on truth--one of the truths we've just celebrated is that the Word became flesh. Jesus was actually born and walked around in the flesh, present physically as well as emotionally and spiritually. We humans are an interconnected bundle of all those different aspects. And sometimes the physical part of us has a direct effect on the emotional. 

Going outside, for example, almost always boosts my mood and clears my head. Ideally for at least 15 minutes (in the morning), since that also helps with getting enough vitamin D and keeping the biological clock on the right time. This can be coupled with . . . 

Exercise. Yes, I'm as lazy as the next person, but going outside for a 15-minute walk helps me. It also gives additional . . .

Light therapy. Just to make sure to get enough, a couple of years ago I invested in one of these special winter lights. Keith is not a fan. Instead, his approach to light therapy is going South. Next week he'll be spending time with our team mates Eddie & Macarena Aldape. The Aldapes live on the sunny coast of southern Spain.  Though Keith does also take . . .

Suppliments like vitamin D. Our teammate Mina Podgaisky who has served in Ukraine and now with Ukrainians from her new home in Poland, takes as much vitamin D as she can. She, like Macarena, was born in Mexico. Her beautiful skin tone just does not absorb as much vitamin D as her much paler husband Gennady. Her dosage was prescribed by her . . . 

Medical professional.  One January a couple of years ago our adult daughter's doctor discovered that a severe vitamin deficiency was the cause of our daughter's lack of energy. She actually needed a series of injections, rather than just a couple of pills from the drugstore shelf. Sometimes we need professional advice. It's worth checking out.

Closing with another truth:  our Creator knows our frame. We honor the Creator and the creation when we acknowledge and care for that frame as well. Psalm 103:14

The Light Shines . . .

 A colleague recently wrote that they were feeling tired and blue. Does that sound familiar to you? It does to me. This is begins a series of what helps me. Everyone's different. What helps me might help you . . . and it might not. 

Acknowledging emotions but focusing on truth.* 

For example, the Light does still shine in the darkness. 

Specifically:  A young Roma guy from the church in Vulcanesti, Moldova, only has 6 months left in his two-year pastor's training course. He and his wife had trouble making ends meet, and shortly before Christmas he thought he might need to break up his study to go work abroad. We prayed with our Moldovan partner Pastor Petru Ciochina about this. God reminded me of someone who had asked us to let her know if we ever had a specific need. We sent her an email the next day. She wrote back: 

Thank you so much for letting me know of this need.  I prayed to God that he would lay something in my heart to help someone in this season and then there is your email!  HE is an amazing God and reaches across the oceans. I will mail a check today . . . .

The check covers the rent for the rest of this young man's study time.

*Learned from my wise friend Crista Smidt. Crista has an MSW and 30+ years' experience as a guidance counselor in a Christian school system. She also has 50+ years' experience focusing on the truth of God's grace and Jesus' love.