Monday, November 23, 2020
Thursday, November 5, 2020
Reeves Relay part three Pilgrims
O the pilgrims
Imagine in the 1620s in Massachusetts going into the winter where are you will face your first NorthEaster. Wind and temperature you probably never experienced in England. Keep in mind there is no insulation. You have a little food and by spring half of you will be dead. Social distancing was not a problem.
Take time to visit the lonely.
That puts our experiences rather different perspective Something to be thankful for. I am thankful for the heat, light, food, and family support. Thank you, Lord
Actually call, Come on millennials get real - Call, actually write a letter.
As we approach the holidays how can we embrace our traditions this year with Covid?
Since COVID-19 is quite contagious we will have to embrace health and safety for our loved ones.
This season we may see more celebrations done with smaller familiar settings. Parents with their children, older grandparents with one another.
How do we reach out to those in our family that may be alone? Are those people virus-free? Are they fragile in their health? How can you reach out to them?
- Telephone, video calls
- Prepare and deliver meals
- Visits through glass doors
- Write mail letters
We have many challenges. I think them through and try to solve the problems.
We may have to have several smaller family gatherings at various times. I'm gonna throw this out there, don't text - call, If you can use video calls. Make it as personal as possible.
Write a Letter of Thanks
I would say that we are out of the practice of writing personal letters. I know we need to learn to reuse our phones and actually call people. Texting has its limitations in a sense of commitment where we tell people we don't have the time to commit to a phone call.
If you use electronic mailing or messaging there is a voice connection. But in the message cursive writing may convey a personal touch. People may have to decode it for its no longer used a lot. But it may in a personal way to the communication of loving thanks. If you do not write cursive write the letter out using a font on your word processor. Sign your own signature.
Using actual mail with letter and stamp I think would be really special. Writing to loved ones may become a keepsake for many years. Letters are often kept. By them you can record your loved things for people that you care about. At this time the letter itself may be a special encouragement.
Suggestions:
- Keep the letter brief enough to stay on point. Most of us if we write too long it may not be as good.
- It is a good idea to write 3 to 5 things you are thankful for that person.
- Thankfulness can also express appreciation or love.
- Express the hope that COVID-19 will be overcome and your desire to see your loved ones remain a top priority.
I hope these thoughts stimulate your own creative juices to express things and love during the holiday season. Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day, Family gatherings are what we want to return to. Human isolation is not the new norm.
In the Lamb
Bill Reeves Jr.
Reeves Raley November Gratitude a game-changer pt 1
Char Sandberg writing in this month’s newsletter for Meijer Clinic that gratitude can be an antidote for fear. With the coming of COVID-19, we have undergone a number of changes where flexibility is required by everybody.
Now we are in the holiday season where there will be many who will experience the holidays alone. This forced loneliness in isolation for many is just one of the casualties of war with this virus.
We may feel powerless to do anything about it at first but Char reminds us “God has not given a spirit of fear but of love, of power and of sound mind” second Timothy 1:7. We can have many negative emotions running rampant right now. Anxiety, fear, loneliness, if we feel alone and the holidays we often think so absolutely with the feeling that we are the only person experiencing this loneliness. Negative thinking often operates in the area of absolutes.
Well, first of all, challenge all negative thinking. Find something that contradicts it. In this case, many people are going through this the same problem. You are not alone. Many of us have the same feeling.
Char Sandburg points out expressing gratitude is a very biblical idea. Furthermore modern research and studies verify the power to change our brain expressing gratitude throughout the day as needed. She shares that we may not be able to change our circumstances but we can change our thoughts, feelings, and behavior that will make all the difference in how we go through our experiences.
Take time to express your gratitude. Write them down. I often challenge myself to think of 3-5 things that I am thankful for. Even one thing can make a difference. Shifting to a solid idea of love, forgiveness, thankfulness can change the negative emotions to positive ones. The effect on the brain is enormous and the change of attitude gives us the strength to deal with those things changes that come.
https://www.meierclinics.com/gratitude-the-antidote-to-fear/
Char Sandberg was one of my therapists as I recovered from depression and anxiety and post-traumatic stress.
How can you help people you know isolated from Covid and health issues? We all have a ministry to comfort.
Give thanks
In everything give thanks. For us to make this part of our practice we will have to give it some thought. I think that is the idea of it is to give it some thought. If we are shifting from a negative thought to a positive expression of thanks; we have to think it through. Our experience will show us how useful this is and will encourage us to practice 1 Thess. 5:18.
By the way, it is an easy verse to memorize & meditate on.