WATCHWORD:
10 This is what the Lord says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. 14 I will be found by you,” says the Lord. Jeremiah 29:10-14a.
He reached down from heaven and rescued me; he drew me out of deep waters.
17 He rescued me from my powerful enemies, from those who hated me and were too strong for me. Psalm 18:16-17
Meditation:
Gloom, Despair, and Agony
Do you remember this by Buck Owens and Roy Clark from Hee Haw?
Gloom, despair, and agony on me
Deep, dark depression, excessive misery
If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all
Gloom, despair, and agony on me
We figured she was rich, loaded to the hilt
And we figured she had class like a Vanderbilt
‘Cause we had heard for years how she was so well-reared
How was we to know they meant the way that she was built
Gloom, despair, and agony on me
Deep, dark depression, excessive misery
If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all
Gloom, despair, and agony on me
Some of the shows were just hilarious, often bordering on just a little censor-able. There are a lot of verses that do not belong in Watchwords, but you get the point.
There is a very important role that humor plays in our lives. Without humor and our faith in Christ, we can sink to the depths of ‘gloom, despair and agony’. For those who were locked-down for seven months, that was a very real, and painful experience where you had to trust in the Lord and the few brief contacts with the outside world to keep sanity in place.
The fact is, mental health issues are a major byproduct of this Covid 19 experience. The gloom, despair and agony flows from the state of depression or anxiety, and all of that flows from fear, as more of our fellow citizens are afflicted.
Our role in imitating Christ, is reaching out to those who seem to be expressing or experiencing negative thoughts, feelings of hopelessness, not sleeping, or feeling like they have no control over their lives. Some of those negative thoughts are often future-based, worrying about what’s going to happen next. Even if they are about something that has already happened, the anxiety will be over what will now take place because of it. Some people show emotion, quick to anger, maybe extremely passive, taking on a ‘Who cares?’ attitude.
This is a very real issue that we need to be aware of in ourselves, and in our conversations with friends and family. We can play a very real part in reaching out to those who seem to be showing these signs. Simple phone calls or visits are so valuable and can mitigate some of these feelings. Valuing friendships carries such positive effects, that we should never under-estimate it’s worth.
Here are five of Stan’s tips for better mental health:
- Limit watching news. Look for positive pod-casts, TBN, documentaries, Doctor Pol. Whatever makes you smile.
- Focus on things you love in your life, and share those thoughts.
- Take a walk, away from negative thinking and speaking people, you know, the nay-sayers. Avoid toxic people (you know who they are).
- Exercise. Even if it is just a short walk, and smile at the people you meet.
- Talk to God all the time. People may think you are crazy, and that, alone, should make you smile. God does.
This is serious business. My daughter often tells me to “take care of business” and by that she means being good to others and myself. Make it a point to contact friends and family with some regularity. It’s good advice, but, I confess, I am not good at following it all the time, but I can pass it on!
Bulletin Board:
It should be noted that laughter is strong medicine. It draws people together in ways that trigger healthy physical and emotional changes in the body.
It is a medical fact that laughter strengthens your immune system, boosts mood, diminishes pain, and protects you from the damaging effects of stress. All good things.
So, try these –
- I can’t take my dog to the park because the ducks keep trying to bite him. I guess that’s what I get for getting a pure bread dog.
- Why were they called the Dark Ages? Because there were lots of knights.
- What did Mr. and Mrs. Hamburger name their daughter? Patty!
Morning Prayers:
Dear God, I come to You in total expectation of the best. I believe in miracles because I believe in You. I cooperate with You by holding in my human mind the very best outcome. I do not come to You in desperation, but in gratitude and excitement of the result given to me ahead of any need. I live my days in prayer and my days bless me. I go to You first each day to prepare my human mind for the blessed life. I live my moments, day by day, in positive expectation and overflowing gratitude as I witness and take part in the miraculous results. I believe that spiritual power is the most important activity that I can take part in. I give myself to it, and it gives its power to me. I am grateful and thankful for every moment spent in sacred prayer. In Jesus Christ’s name … Amen.
