Wisdom
DepressionWisdom
Crazy, Weak, and Worthless?

Crazy, Weak, and Worthless?

Even attempting to define the condition is painful for me. Our world does not accept kindly those suffering from depression. We are looked upon as a bit "crazy"; weaklings who feel sorry for ourselves; people who forget to "count their blessings."

To feel depressed is to be "blue" day after day; to experience tiredness that never goes away, not even after ten or twelve hours of sleep; to lack energy for even the smallest of chores; to not be enthusiastic about anything; to be unable to focus or concentrate; to turn molehills into mountains; to be overly sensitive to comments.

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| 2 min read

Holidays
Lent: Fasting and Feasting

Lent: Fasting and Feasting

How would you explain Ash Wednesday to another person?

The following is my attempt:

On Ash Wednesday, the first day of the season of Lent, the pastor applies ashes in the shape of the cross on the forehead of each participant while speaking the words, “For dust you are and to dust you shall return." Genesis 3:19

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| 2 min read

Developmentally Challenged
What do you say to a friend who has a baby with a disability?

What do you say to a friend who has a baby with a disability?

My first response is the old adage which says, "actions speak louder than words." Of paramount importance is that your friend feels your love and support. Hold the baby.

*As one mother said, "Hold our baby. Holding the baby says, "This handicap is not a barrier. I accept this special little person." You can even say this out loud to the baby and to the parent(s), "This handicap is not a barrier. I accept this special little person. I want to be a part of this baby's life."

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| 4 min read

Aging & ElderlyAlzheimer's DiseaseCaregiving Questions
What are the early signs of Alzheimers Disease?

What are the early signs of Alzheimers Disease?

Dear Karen,
How do I know if my mom has Alzheimer’s disease? What are some of the early signs of this disease? -Betty

Dear Betty:
Good question, Betty. Many people, including myself, want to know what signs to look for. For wisdom on this subject I went to wonderful resource, Coach Broyles’ Playbook for Alzheimer’s Caregivers. Frank Broyles, is Athletic Director Emeritus for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks. His wife, Barbara, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Frank says, “I had many questions and spent a lot of time looking for answers. What I learned is contained in my book, Playbook for Alzheimer’s Caregivers.”

One of the first topics which Coach Broyles deals with in his book is what signs to look for.

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| 3 min read

Caregiving QuestionsDeathIllnessesTerminal
How can we care for those who are terminally ill?

How can we care for those who are terminally ill?

Margaret Vermeer served as a missionary in Nigeria. When she was seven months pregnant, she received the report that a biopsy of a small tumor was malignant. Five weeks after the surgery to remove the tumors, she gave birth to a son, then began chemotherapy and radiation treatments. For two years she had a miraculous remission, but then gradually more tumors appeared.

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| 4 min read

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