Not too many years after High School, one of my buddies and most popular guys in the school, lost his life while serving our country. I have another friend who suffered mental health issues after his years of service and have had the honor of meeting many men and women who served our country well. To them, and their families who served by supporting their Service Member, I say a huge “Thank You!”
Did I serve? No, Charcot-Marie-Tooth was evident in me so it prevented me from military service. I think my circumstance caused me to be ever so grateful for those who are willing to stand up and serve.
Today, as you celebrate a day off from work and school, take the time to say “Thank You” to a service member. When I have done this, usually I get a response of “You’re Welcome!” along with a huge smile.
A Happy Mother’s Day to mom’s everywhere! While growing up, I had several mothers! The woman who gave birth to me was my “real” mom yet I had several ladies at church who I called “mom” because they were close friends of mine and our family. There were times when I wished I didn’t have so many moms because it was hard to get away with anything. However, looking back, I am grateful for their love for me too.
My mother passed away ten years ago. Yes, it makes Mother’s Day a little rough as I miss her. However, I am blessed to have some wonderful memories of her and will think about those. It would be nice to have her around to celebrate the day with, but she is in Heaven with Jesus so I wouldn’t want her to come back to this world for anything. She is rejoicing in having no more pain or suffering.
May God bless your day with your Mother. If your mom has passed away like mine has, reflect on the memories. Or, maybe celebrate the day with those “moms” in your life who influenced your life.
Easter is one of those times in my Christian faith which just rips my heart out. It’s not unusual to find me crying my eyes out when viewing a pageant, play, hearing and singing the beautiful Easter hymns with the glorious voices and instruments or movie about Jesus’s crucifixion on the cross for my sins. To imagine or think someone or anyone would do that for me, brings tears to my eyes.
Jesus Christ was crucified on a cruel cross on Good Friday. He rose from the dead three days later on Easter Sunday so that we could have eternal life in Heaven with Him. That is, if we decide to accept Jesus Christ as our Savior. A great website to learn about the Christian faith, how to become a Christian, Jesus, and God, is Peace With God.
Becoming a Christian has been the best decision and the best thing I have ever done in my life. I know when I die, I will be in heaven with Jesus. I hope and pray that you will make the decision too.
These days, there are a bazillion ways to get help with what ails you! From medications to meditations, exercises to yoga, man-made devices to holistic therapies to psychological. The list could go on and on and on but I think you get my point. These days, Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) patients have plenty of choices.
While I have had to use some medications over the years to keep me from having too much pain, needle-nerve pain is the worst, it is not usually my first choice. Needle-nerve pain feels like a thousand needles prickling me. However, I have not had to take any medication for muscle pain which thrills me to no end.
My first resource when dealing with the pain, new or old, is to call on the name of “Jesus!” Yes, “Jesus!” Sometimes I repeat “Jesus” several times. And, not at all in a profane way, as some might do. I pray that He helps me to get through the challenges of the pain. He does but in many different ways -that’s for another post. Sometimes the pain returns but He is there with me to help me with it too.
Many people will ask, “well, if Jesus can help with the pain, why doesn’t He stop it?” I have to say, “I do not know the answer to that question. When I ask Him He doesn’t always answer that question. One time, I learned it was because a friend needed to see His Power. However, I trust Him and have seen His Mighty Power help me so many times it’s an incredibly awesome experience. Also, many years ago, the serious pain I was suffering led a girlfriend to become a Christian. To me, that is worth it all. While I cannot explain everything in the Bible or how God works, I would say to be careful around someone who tells you they have all the answers to your questions. If someone claims to have all the answers, RUN!
I have a simple strong faith. My faith isn’t ground in having all the answers. It is ground in the Promise that Jesus says He will never leave or forsake me. I trusted Him with my life many years ago and He has NEVER EVER let me down. And, He never will!
If you would like to learn more about the Christian Faith, Jesus, God, and the Bible, please visit Peace With God.
While Summer is my favorite season, Spring is the close second. It means time for me to get outside much more often. Also, I plan to begin a new exercise routine this season since Deep Water Aerobics was cancelled and never restarted.
If you remember from a previous post, I started a routine this winter using a Bemer Group product (no affiliation, more about it later) which helped tremendously with the cold weather. My current thought is to start biking. It will help my legs to get more exercise and something for me to do outside!
I am planning to explore my universe with my new dog more this spring and summer. There are several places that I can go railfanning so we will explore them as well as hike a few battlefields!
How do you celebrate Spring? Any new exercise routines? Please share in the comments below!
A-h-h-h-h Spring! According to the calendar, the first day of Spring is next Saturday, March 20! Tomorrow begins Daylight Saving Time once again! For that, I am happy! Why? It usually means the really cold weather is gone, no more snow or ice storms, and warmer weather is on the way. We have had some snowstorms in late March, I remember a few in early April too, but they melt away very fast- a great way to celebrate snow, here today and gone tomorrow.
Being retired from a career of 33 years and having more time at home, my schedule has changed to where I can be outside more than ever before. The time change means the days will be warmer soon and I can get out with my dog to enjoy whenever I want which is a blessing!
Well, if I were a betting man, I would be richer today than I was a year ago. Why do I say all that? Somehow, I knew COVID-19 was going to be an issue with its lockdown nonsense at least into the election season. Most people seriously doubted me. As more stringent lockdowns began in some parts of the country, my frustrations continue as the “lockdowns” have harmed more people than we really know.
While I understand the need to be careful because of a virus. I’m not seeing where any pre-cautions are any different than those I was taught as a very young boy probably soon after birth! My mother taught me not to put my hands in or on my mouth, do not pick my nose but use a tissue, do not cough into my right hand since you might shake someone’s hand, wash your hands frequently and often (I know, right?!), stay away from people who are coughing or have a cold. Common sense health care, right? Right.
My first and foremost frustration is how diligently I worked for many years, probably close to twenty, to help me feel better and stay ahead of Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT). It’s been proven that if you stay active, you can slow the effects of CMT, though not truly stop it or cure you. I have been careful not to be lazy or take the easy way out with many aspects of life so I would stay active. When the governor of Virginia closed everything in the wake of COVID-19, it really upset me because he was messing with my health- along with many others.
Back in 2006, while in physical therapy sessions I learned quite a few exercises to help me with some pain. At the same time, I had started taking Deep Water Aerobics (DWA) classes. It wasn’t long before I connected the exercises in the physical therapy to the exercises in DWA and realized it could be very beneficial to continue taking the DWA classes. After that, I made sure not to miss any classes as it was more fun than going to physical therapy. In the time prior to the COVID shutdowns of March 2020, I never missed more than a few classes at a time. Now, it’s been about a year.
Thankfully, during the summer of 2020, I was able to use a friend’s pool to workout. Thanks to my brilliant Deep Water Aerobics Instructors who provided excellent instruction prior to COVID and provided me an instruction list to a workout routine. Also, I took up riding my bicycle every day along with walking my dog. This routine helped me through to the fall season when it finally got to cold to swim or ride my bike.
Since it doesn’t seem like my DWA classes at the local fitness center will ever start up again, I inquired about personal training sessions. However, the classes would be very expensive, possibly unreliable with the whims of the politicians these days, and there would be no use of the locker room to change. Not good. I could change in the hallway bathroom but I am not too interested in sharing my naked self with the world as I just knew the door would open at an inopportune time. The other choice was to go home in a wet bathing suit. For me, CMT affects my nerves which happens to NOT mix well with cold water and winter weather. A recipe for nerve issues and becoming ill. So it didn’t work out.
Fortunately for me, I have learned to pay quite a bit of attention to my body and what I do to make it feel better or worse. I learned that continuing to have my massage therapy and chiropractor sessions, but spaced at least a week apart, and scheduling every three weeks would mean minimal discomfort.
The blessing in all of this frustration is coming, I believe. My massage therapist is always on the lookout or learning new ways to help people feel better. Not too long after my frustrations of no Deep Water Workouts began, she introduced me to a new type of therapy called “Bemer.” Since it is what I call holistic, meaning no medications involved, I was willing to try it.
My journey into using the Bemer product to help me feel better with guidance from my massage therapist has begun. I will share updates as I can.
Please remember, my experiences are my own and cannot be guaranteed to provide you with the same results. CMT affects each person differently. Discuss any exercise routines or products with your doctor.
I hope and pray that you have a blessed New Year! Remember, often, life is what you make it. If you focus on the negative, that’s the way it will be! If you focus on the positive, that’s what you’ll see and remember. Sounds crazy? Try in 2021 and see how the year goes.
MERRY CHRISTMAS! I enjoy the Christmas season with all its decorations and beautiful music. I have quite a few memories of Christmases from my childhood with my parents who made the season a special time. My parents taught me that Christmas is more than gifts and decorations.
Most of all, I am very thankful for the Birth of Jesus Christ, for His saving me from my sins, and for the Promise of eternal life in heaven when I die. The Christmas season to me is a celebration of His Birth, especially Christmas Day! The greatest Christmas Gift ever was God sending His Son Jesus as a Baby to be born on earth and live among people. At the early age of 36, Jesus was crucified on a rugged cross for our sins. It’s hard for me to believe that God or Jesus would care enough for me and where I spend eternity to do that for me. BUT, He did.
A great resource to learn more about God’s Plan of Salvation for man is Peace With God.
“Glory to God in the Highest … the Nativity” Photo by David Beale on Unsplash
Christmas is such an amazing time of year, a time when people smile at each other no matter how long the line is to make their purchase. A time when people look for the perfect tree or the perfect gift. A time when delicious smells waft through kitchens all around the world.
Now I hear that Christmas might be canceled. I find that hard to believe. However, with our government closing stores, restaurants, not allowing large gatherings for birthday parties, funerals, etc., Christmas most certainly seems like it will be next.
We look forward to hearing that one special song that, for each one of us, says…”Christ is coming.” Christmas carolers, Christmas pies, Christmas stockings, and Christmas lights, will this be the year they disappear?
Trees, wreaths, cookies, stars, presents, what says Christmas to you? When you see a bright star in the sky does that make you think of our Savior’s birth? Do you ever tire of hearing the story of Jesus’ birth with Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, and the Maji?
Shepherds, now there was a motley crew. Working with sheep is a smelly dirty job. And dressing for work would not have to do with putting on your best duds. Then one night as the shepherds bedded down the sheep and were sitting around a fire, something amazing happened. An angel appeared and the previously dark sky was alive with light. They cowered in fear, but then the angel said, “fear not” and the fear left them and they became still and listened. And what a story the angel would tell these shepherds, not the people in town, not the merchants, not even the rabbi, God chose shepherds to hear the glorious message of the Birth of His Son. How appropriate as His Son would come to be known as the Great Shepherd.
Cancel Christmas…I don’t think so, for the spirit of Christmas lives in you.
Let’s share the joy, the hope, and the love of Christmas with everyone we meet.
To learn about Jesus Birth and the Christian life, please visit Peace With God.
About the author: Kim Kirby is a writer and lives in Virginia. Her writing reflects her belief and faith in Jesus. She enjoys spending time in the outdoors, especially the mountains.
