LIFE WITH THE OLD LADY AND ANA-PSALM 91

Editor’s Note: This is the fourth of several short stories dealing with my personal interpretation of selected verses from the Holy Bible offered under the title “The Old Lady and Ana”.
LIFE WITH THE OLD LADY AND ANA
4. PSALM 91

The night was particularly dark and gloomy. It had been raining continuously all day with bouts of lightening and thunder so strong that the windows shuddered. The television repeatedly warned of the risk of tornados.
Little Ana sat huddled close to the old lady, visibly frightened, she pleaded with her:
“Please Gramma, I am afraid, why is God causing all of this to happen?”

The Old lady smiling sweetly, calmly sat up and looking intently at the face of her grandchild, whispered firmly:
“Don’t ever be afraid of anything bad my child.
Always know that God will never leave you alone”
Picking up her trusted bible, she opened it at Psalm 91 and said:
“Let us listen to what God has promised those who believe in him”.

Reading slowly and deliberately:

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,

my God, in whom I trust.

“He promises that if you trust in your God and make him your strength and your protector, you will live under his shadow”.

She continued reading:

Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare

and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his feathers,

and under his wings you will find refuge;

his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

“God is promising you that in the worst of times when you feel threatened and deadly disease abound, he will cover you with his feathers and shield you with his faithfulness”

Ana, somewhat puzzled, asked:
“But Gramma what can I do when I am afraid like this?

The Old lady held her closer and continued to read from the Bible:

You will not fear the terror of night,

nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,

nor the plague that destroys at midday.
A thousand may fall at your side,

ten thousand at your right hand,

but it will not come near you.
You will only observe with your eyes

and see the punishment of the wicked.

“God said to us we must not be afraid of anything, be it terror or threats or disease. He promised us that although thousands of others will succumb all around us, it will not happen to us. We will see how the wicked are punished”.

Visibly relieved but still incredulous, Ana asked:

“What does God want us to do so that he can do all this for us?

The Old lady, still smiling shook her head gently and continued:

If you make the Most High your dwelling—

even the LORD, who is my refuge-
then no harm will befall you,

no disaster will come near your tent.
For he will command his angels concerning you

to guard you in all your ways;
they will lift you up in their hands,

so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;

you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

“You see Ana, God has told us clearly. If you chose him as your home and protector, he promises that no harm will ever befall you and no disaster will come to you. He will also command his angels to guard you and lift you away from danger and strengthen you so that you could trample the lion and snake, which means your enemies".

Ana’s eyes opened wide with joy as she heard these words. But then she paused for a moment , and with a frown on her small forehead and a very serious tone in her voice asked:

“But Gramma, why would God want to do all this for me?”

The Old lady laughed out loudly and quickly replied:

“You see Ana, God knew you would ask that question and this is his answer”;

Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;

I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call upon me, and I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble,

I will deliver him and honor him.

"God will do all this if you love him, acknowledge him and call upon him. He will respond to you, be with you and deliver you when you are in trouble. And he will honor you".

And without pausing, the Old lady continued:

With long life will I satisfy him

and show him my salvation.

At which point, little Ana jumped up, hugged her grandmother as hard as she could and spoke, with a voice full of faith and confidence:

“I know Gramma, God will give me a long life and salvation if I love and trust him”.

LIFE WITH THANKSGIVING

“I will praise God's name in song
and glorify him with Thanksgiving”.
…….Psalm 69:30

From time immemorial, people have felt the need to observe rituals and ceremonies to express gratitude to a higher power for providing blessings and for life itself. These expressions of gratitude have usually taken the form of celebrations and festivals held annually at the time of Harvest, and represent acts of thanksgiving from the people. Throughout the ages, in every culture and in every society these expressions of gratitude, though different in time and in character, have developed as a common denominator to identify and reinforce a group of people who become established as a tribe, or country or nation.

Throughout the world people from various cultures have celebrated these communal gatherings around the time of completion of their primary crops. These various harvest festivals are observed under different names and in different seasons, with each region embracing its unique customs and traditions to celebrate the occasion. Although the form of celebration may differ from one to another, they all include prayers, public demonstrations and feasts together with expressions of gratitude, love and peace as common factors.

Among the ancient cultures, the Greeks worshipped Demeter as their goddess of all grains. Each autumn the festival of Thesmosphoria was held to honor the goddess. The Romans celebrated Cerelia, a festival which was dedicated to Ceres, their goddess of corn. The Egyptians celebrated their festival in honor of their god of vegetation and fertility, Min, when a most important part of this ceremony was the symbolic act of the Pharaoh cutting the first sheaf, or bundle, of grain. Jewish families, for over 3000 years, have been celebrating an autumn harvest festival called Sukkoth, and continue to do so presently. Throughout the centuries, most countries in Asia have hosted festivals in gratitude for each year's rice harvest, and continue to do so, to this day. In Africa, there many ceremonies of tribal expressions of gratitude for the produce of the land taking place annually, and in recent times these are reflected in the annual Kwanza festival celebrated in America.

In America, the celebration of Thanksgiving is a cherished tradition, held in high regard by the whole nation each November. But long before its discovery by Columbus, the first Americans observed several rituals and ceremonies to express gratitude to a higher power for life itself. The Seneca Tribe of the Iroquois Indian Nation observed a thanksgiving ritual annually and is credited with this beautiful pray:

Let there be gratitude; we are always going to be grateful,
we who remain, we who claim to be happy. And give it your thought:
the first thing for us to do is to be thankful to each other.
And our minds will continue to be so.

In November 1997, the U.N. General Assembly, on the recommendation of a dedicated group of experts, unanimously declared the year 2000 as the International Year of Thanksgiving. This declaration marked the first time the General Assembly voted unanimously in favor of a spiritual idea and noted:

“Thanksgiving is basic in human nature and is observed worldwide.
It ties human communities together and encourages brotherhood and sharing.”

However, let us not ever forget, that there is another, more personal form of thanksgiving that is related to our own individual lives as it affects our interaction with others. Many of us tend to forget our responsibility, by avoiding or disregarding our duty to genuinely recognize the help others extend to us. It is so important that we live our lives around this fundamental principle of acknowledging and rewarding the goodwill from others, for this above all else, will make us the better person. The late President John F. Kennedy expressed these sentiments most effectively, in this manner:

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that
the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them”

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O Lord that lends me life,

Lend me a heart replete with thankfulness.

…….William Shakespeare

Nothing is more honorable than a grateful heart.
……Seneca

Got no check books, got no banks. Still I'd like to express my Thanks;
- I got the sun in the mornin' and the moon at night. ……Irving Berlin

A Thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue,
but the parent of all the other virtues.
…….Cicero

Thanksgiving Day is a jewel, to set in the hearts of honest men;
but be careful that you do not take the day, and leave out the gratitude.
…..E.P. Powell

.Thanksgiving is the holiday of peace;
The celebration of work and the simple life.
……Ray Stannard Baker

On Thanksgiving Day we acknowledge our interdependence.
……William Jennings Bryan

Not what we say about our blessings,
but how we use them, is the true measure of our Thanksgiving.
……W.T. Purkiser

Thanksgiving is a season that is very much in accord
with the themes and teachings of Jesus Christ.
……John Clayton

For each new morning with its light, For rest and shelter of the night, For health and food, For love and friends, For everything Thy goodness sends.
…….Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thanksgiving is possible only for those who take time to remember;
No one can give thanks who has a short memory.
……..Author Unknown

Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them;
Is the true measure of our thanksgiving.
……W.T. Purkiser

LIFE WITH THE OLD LADY AND ANA-Matthew 6:

Editor’s Note: This is the third of several short stories dealing with my personal interpretation of selected verses from the Holy Bible offered under the title “The Old Lady and Ana”.

LIFE WITH THE OLD LADY AND ANA
3. MATTHEW 6:25-34 (DO NOT WORRY)



“Gramma I am very worried” Ana said, looking at her grand mother with a frown borne of genuine concern and anxiety. “My best friend’s daddy has lost his job and might lose his home
and she is crying all the time and I don’t know what to say to her. Why is God not helping them?"
The old lady, sensing stress beyond Ana’s tender age, beckoned her to come sit with her on the couch.

“Let us listen to what God has to say to people who are worried about their lives”.

She then opened her trusted bible to the Gospel of Matthew 6: 25-34, and began to read aloud:

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,
what you will eat or drink;
or about your body, what you will wear.
Is not life more important than food,
and the body more important than clothes?

“you see Ana, God is telling you that you need not worry about what you have to eat or drink or wear. None of this is as important to God as your life.

The old lady continued: “Listen to this, God has more to say”

Look at the birds of the air;
they do not sow or reap or store away in barns,
and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are you not much more valuable than they?

“Have you ever wondered how the birds that fly around get there food. They don’t grow anything and have no home to store anything. They get everything from God. Don’t you think God will do the same for you who is more valuable to him than them.”

Ana nodded her head in approval but still appeared worried and confused. The old lady drew her closer and said “Let’s listen some more”:

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
And why do you worry about clothes?
See how the lilies of the field grow.
They do not labor or spin
Yet I tell you that not even Solomon
in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

If that is how God clothes the grass of the field,
which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire,
will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

“God said worry does not help, you don’t live any longer. Also worrying about clothes makes no sense, the beautiful lilies of the field do nothing but get their beauty from God. Even Solomon the wisest king could not match this. And if God will do this for the lilies, don’t think he will do the more for you, his favorite.”

Ana smiled, she was relieved and asked her grandmother, what should she do.
The old lady answered;
“God has the answer, listen”

So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?'
or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
For the pagans run after all these things,
and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

“Notice he said stop worrying about what we eat, or drink or wear, leave that for those who don’t believe in God. You must trust that God knows what you need and he will always provide for you”.

Now, beaming with joy, Ana hugged her grandmother and thanked her for all her help and then asked; “Gramma, how should I tell my friend not to worry?”
She replied, "God gave us the answer”:

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,
and all these things will be given to you as well.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow,
for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own.

“Tell your friend, trust in God and his goodness and know he will provide everything. And do not worry about tomorrow, you have enough to worry about today”.

With eyes wide open and a deep sight of relief, little Ana jumped up, kissed her grand mother and as she ran out of the room, stated loud and clear, for all to hear:

“Thank you God, you are wonderful”.

THE OLD LADY AND ANA (Proverbs 31)

Editor’s Note: This is the second of several short stories dealing with my personal interpretation of selected verses from the Holy Bible offered under the title

“The Old Lady and Ana”.

LIFE WITH THE OLD LADY AND ANA
2. PROVERBS 31 (The Virtuous Woman)

It was a beautiful sunny Saturday afternoon and the family had all gone out of the house. She was sitting outside in the porch doing what she most enjoys to do; reading and meditating on the word of the Lord. On this occasion she was reading some of her most favorite passages contained in Proverbs 31, often referred to as The Virtuous Woman. She still recalls her first encounter with this passage. She was no more than 9 or 10 years old when Isabelle, her late nanny, read and explained it to her and then prayed with her, asking God to guide her to follow the path of a virtuous woman, so that the world will be proud of her. She never forgot this and has spent all her life trying to follow the advice.

Some time later that afternoon, Ana came out to greet her. She had a glass of milk and a cookie in her hands;

“Gramma, she asked, what is God saying to you today?”

The Old Lady greeted Ana, asked her to sit next to her and said:
“Let me tell you about the story in the bible about a very good woman who lived a long time ago and who God wants us all to be like. It is written in Proverbs 31, and describes what every woman should strive to be in all aspects of their lives. In their personal appearance, their family life and their daily responsibilities, they must strive to obey and live by God’s teachings”.

She continues:
“The passage begins with a description of a Virtuous Woman, a woman of strong character”:

Who can find a wife of noble character?

For her value is far more than rubies.

The heart of her husband has confidence in her,

and he has no lack of gain.

She brings him good and not evil all the days of her life.

She obtains wool and flax,

and she is pleased to work with her hands.
She is like the merchant ships;

she brings her food from afar.

She also gets up while it is still night,

and provides food for her household
and a portion to her female servants.

“These words simply describe that a good woman must be honest and strong, must be respected by her family and willing to work hard, hand in hand with her husband to take care of her family and others dependent on her”.

Referring to the woman’s image and appearance, she continues to read:

She makes for herself coverlets;

her clothing is fine linen and purple.

Her husband is well-known in the city gate

when he sits with the elders of the land.

She makes linen garments and sells them,

and supplies the merchants with sashes.

She is clothed with strength and honor,

and she can laugh at the time to come.

Looking at Ana, the old lady explains:
“A good woman must not only work hard, but must make sure that as she does so, her appearance creates an image that deserves the respect of others and adds to the good name and reputation of her husband and family”.

The old lady continued;
“Remember, however successful you become, God expects you to be charitable and to share your blessings with your poor and needy neighbors”.

She then read out these lines:

She extends her hand to the poor,

and reaches out her hand to the needy.

Finally, the old lady turns to little Ana and holding her close to her, says with a voice firm with conviction from a life time of experience of trying to live the good life:
“This is how God expects the good woman to be. She must speak wisely with truth and honesty and she must take care of her household and avoid idle behavior.
And when she does this, her children will raise their voices in appreciation, and her husband will praise her and give her just rewards and announce her praises to all the world as a woman who fears the Lord and who lives by his words”.

She speaks with wisdom,

and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household

and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed;

her husband also, and he praises her:
"Many women do noble things,

but you surpass them all."
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;

but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Give her the reward she has earned,

and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

The old lady paused for a moment, said a silent pray of praise, and then slowly closed her bible.
Little Ana remained silent for a short while, then as she got up, she turned to her grand mother and, with words of wisdom that belied her tender age, said;

“Gramma, I believe I know what God wants me to be,

because I have just heard his voice”

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THE OLD LADY AND ANA (Psalm 23)

Editor’s Note: This is the first of several short stories dealing

with my personal interpretation of selected verses from

the Holy Bible offered under the title “The Old Lady and Ana”.

LIFE WITH THE OLD LADY AND ANA
1. PSALM 23 (The Psalm of David)

She sat comfortably in her favorite chair, her bible opened at her favorite spot, Psalm 23,
The Psalm of David. As she began reading the first verse, Ana her 9 year old grand daughter came bouncing in. Gramma she asked, Why are you always reading that book?
Smiling sweetly, she replied; When I read this book, I listen to God speaking to me through his words. Every line in this book has a message from God, if you listen. She continued, Look at this passage, it is called Psalm 23, the Psalm of David:

Ana came closer and together they read the first line;

1. THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, I SHALL NOT WANT.
Just like a shepherd who takes care of his sheep, providing all their needs, so too, God is
Assuring us that he will provide all our needs, care for us, protect us and guide us. We

must believe and trust that God will always be there for us.

2. HE MAKES ME LIE DOWN IN GREEN PASTURES,
HE LEADS ME BESIDE QUIET WATERS,
He RESTORES MY SOUL.
Again like the good shepherd who takes his sheep to good pastures and provide water

and rest, God will provide us with places where we are sustained and refreshed and

where we can lift our spirits when we are down.

3. HE GUIDES ME IN THE PATHES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,
FOR HIS NAME’S SAKE.
Like a good shepherd who keeps his sheep from straying away, so God will be there to

guide us in the path of a true Christian, whenever we falter.

4. EVEN THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH
I WILL FEAR NO EVIL, FOR YOU ARE WITH ME,
YOUR ROD AND STAFF COMFORT ME.
He reassures us that there will be no need to be afraid for he will be present in our

worst hour, always guiding us and supporting us. He will always be faithful to us.

5. YOU PREPARE A TABLE BEFORE ME, IN THE PRESENCE OF MY ENEMIES.
YOU ANOINT MY HEAD WITH OIL, MY CUP OVERFLOWS.
Like a faithful caring father, God provides us will all our needs, in spite of our enemies

around us and he continues to bless us with overflowing bounties.

6. SURELY GOODNESS AND LOVE WILL FOLLOW ME ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE, AND I WILL DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF MY LORD FOREVER.
And after all of this, be assured that with God’s blessings your life will be full of

Goodness and Love and with a promise that you will live in his house for eternity.

At this point Ana, eyes wide open and overwhelmed with awe, looked at her grandmother, and slowly said;
Gramma thank you for helping me hear God speaking to me.

Can you please ask him to come back soon”.

With great joy and happiness, the old lady replied;
Yes Ana, very soon”.

LIFE WITH FAITH

“Faith is not necessary when you know how things are going to work out, - that's knowledge. It's in the time of unknowing, that having faith is what sees you through to the other side. Faith is what gives you strength. Faith is that light in your heart that keeps on shining even when it's all darkness outside. Now is the time to keep that faith alive!”

This description of Faith by an author whose name I do not recall, has always been the standard by which I define its true meaning. It refers more specifically to faith possessed by an individual, his confidence in a person, or a plan or an idea and an unshakable trust that the outcome will always be correct.

“Faith” can also refer to religion, as a belief in certain ideas, or conditions or in a higher super-natural power that ultimately controls human thought or destiny. In this context, it is often used to highlight the fundamental difference between the various religions and as a result has been blamed for the cause and reason for the perpetuation of their separate identities. In contrast the common denominators among all the religions such as love, respect, understanding, tolerance and good works are generally similar and interchangeable. However unfortunately, these are deliberately understated in favor of contrasting dogmas in faith in order to maintain and propagate their differences and ensure continued disagreements. One should therefore not be surprised at the ongoing inter-religious strife and disharmony that exists in the world.

As I see it, the presence of true faith should play an integral role in all aspects of our entire lives. Not just on our religious beliefs, but on everything we do and on everyone we encounter. When faith operates there should be a comprehensive trusting that the right way will always appear, and that there will be a shield of security that protects you from fears of human failing, loss or disappointment. It should provide a feeling of calmness and confidence that comes from trusting entirely to the truth, and embracing and committing to the truth in all things. The truth itself, will become your faith.

St. Augustine of Hippo, the great philosopher and theologian, who lived in the 4th century, AD, was one of the most important figures in the development of Western Christianity and one of the earliest to consider and investigate the importance of Faith in life. Born of a Pagan father and a Christian mother he spent his early years as a staunch pagan following the teachings of Manes and Plato until his “conversion” to Catholicism in 386 AD. From then on he became a prolific writer and teacher on all aspects of religion. His most famous publication was the Enchridion, a handbook on Christian theology in which he wrote extensively on Faith and its importance to Christian Life, concluding by recording a simple but very powerful observation:

“Faith is to believe what you do not see.
The reward of this faith is to see what you believe”.

Throughout the ages, Faith has been the constant companion of all the great leaders, teachers, thinkers, authors, religious and successful people who have excelled in their chosen fields. Ask anyone of them the reason for their success, and the universal response will invariably be “faith”. A cursory look at their quotations on the subject will confirm, beyond any question, the dominating role played by faith in every successful individuals. In fact, I am convinced that in the great majority of instances, Faith is the singular driving force to success.

But faith is within the reach of anyone of us. Whether we are able to call upon it depends on many diverse factors such as experience, example, personality, environment and exposure. We are all able to readily recognize many examples in our own lives or in the lives of others around us where the presence of faith was the over-riding phenomenon. In my own practice over many years, I have never failed to marvel at the rapidity of recovery and the significant improvement directly related to the depth of faith. In fact, several large scale studies have confirmed the validity of this observation in respect to such varying conditions as post surgical recovery, post-stroke, drug and alcohol abuse and depression.

In the end I can do no better than to offer a quotation from the great African-American educator and civil-rights leader, founder of the Bethune-Cookman University and advisor to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Mary Jane McLeod Bethune:

"Without faith, nothing is possible.
With faith, nothing is impossible".

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Now Faith is the assurance of things hoped for,
the conviction of things not seen.
……..Hebrews11:1

Be faithful in small things because,
It is in them that your strength lies.
……..Mother Teresa

Faith is a passionate intuition.
..…..William Wordsworth

Faith is taking the first step;
even when you don't see the whole staircase.
….Martin Luther King

Faith is not belief. Belief is passive. Faith is active.
……..Edith Hamilton

I do not pray for success; I ask for faithfulness.
…..Mother Teresa

Faith is believing;
-Even when it is beyond the power of reason to believe.
……Voltaire

A Faith that cannot survive a collision with the truth,
is not worth many regrets.
……Arthur C. Clarke

Faith makes things possible; -Not easy.
….Author Unknown

It’s lack of Faith that makes you afraid of meeting challenges.
…..Muhammed Ali

Duty cannot exist without Faith.
…..Benjamin Disraeli

Your Faith is what you believe;
-Not what you know.
……Mark Twain

LIFE WITH KHALIL GIBRAN- on Giving

One of the most powerful and compelling section in Khalil Gibran’s masterpiece The Prophet is the one entitled On Giving. In a few paragraphs he was able to expose the fundamental weakness of human nature in respect of giving. While stressing the underlying fear of loss and the need to hold on to possessions as the major factors for not giving, he went on to reinforce the importance of giving of oneself and the rewards that will be acquired by this practice.

His initial thought introduced us to the concept that our giving is meaningless if we guard our possessions for fear of needing them at a later date. This only leads to greater need:

"You give but little when you give of your possessions.
It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.
For what are your possessions but things you keep and guard
for fear you may need them tomorrow?
And what is fear of need but need itself?
Is not dread of thirst when your well is full, thirst that is unquenchable?"

He then went on to deal with the underlying motivation in giving. Most people will give a token amount expecting to receive due recognition, but this renders the gift unwholesome. While others, who own little, will give all because of their belief in life and the fullness of life. They will enjoy the bounties of life.

"There are those who give little of the much which they have
- and they give it for recognition
and their hidden desire makes their gifts unwholesome.
And there are those who have little and give it all.
These are the believers in life and the bounty of life,
and their coffer is never empty".

He then spoke of the rewards of giving. To those who give joyfully, they will experience joy, and those who give reluctantly, they will pay in kind. But those who give for the goodness of giving without expecting anything in return, make God smile on earth. For the greatest joy comes from giving without being asked and seeking out the ones in need and giving openhandedly, without expectation.

"There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward.
And there are those who give with pain, and that pain is their baptism.
And there are those who give and know not pain in giving,
nor do they seek joy, nor give with mindfulness of virtue;
They give as in yonder valley the myrtle breathes its fragrance into space.
Though the hands of such as these God speaks,
and from behind their eyes He smiles upon the earth.
It is well to give when asked,
but it is better to give unasked, through understanding;
And to the open-handed the search for one who shall receive
is joy greater than giving,
And is there aught you would withhold?"

He then dealt with the urgency of giving. Sooner or later, you will leave all that you possess, therefore it is far better that your give in your lifetime than leave the giving to your heirs. And like nature, which gives it’s bounty to all, so should you give, not just to the deserving.

"All you have shall some day be given;
Therefore give now, that the season of giving may be yours and not your inheritors'.
You often say, "I would give, but only to the deserving."
The trees in your orchard say not so, nor the flocks in your pasture.
They give that they may live, for to withhold is to perish".

Finally, he reminded us that in the end we are all, givers and receivers, equal creatures of God, placed on earth to enjoy the bounties of Mother nature and father God, without judging or preconceived ideas of who is deserving or who is not.

"And who are you, that men should rend their bosom and unveil their pride,
that you may see their worth naked and their pride unabashed?
See first that you yourself deserve to be a giver, and an instrument of giving.
For in truth it is life that gives unto life
- while you, who deem yourself a giver, are but a witness.
And you receivers, assume no weight of gratitude,
lest you lay a yoke upon yourself and upon him who gives.
Rather rise together with the giver on his gifts as on wings;
For to be over mindful of your debt, is to doubt his generosity
who has the free-hearted earth for mother, and God for father".

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LIFE WITH MARY

I have never seen her, but I believe I know her. If she were to walk past me now, I will not recognize her, yet I am sure I know her. If she were to stop me and speak to me, I know that her voice will not be familiar, yet I know, I know her. Her name is Mary, that’s all I know, yet she has been as familiar to me as my next door neighbor. All I know about Mary, I know from my wife, Gloria, yet as far as I am concerned, it is as if I have known her all my life.

Gloria knew her as the kind, cheerful cleaning lady who has been working at the local park for the past 6 years. Always with a large beaming smile, she greeted every one of the regulars with a hug so big and so reassuring that you instinctively sensed her sincerity. “I missed you Glo”, she would say to Gloria whenever a day is missed from the usual morning routine. “The ducks are doing fine” she would add, “but they miss you too”.

Mary first came to my attention almost two years ago when Gloria would come home from her regular morning visit to the park and speak glowingly of that truly “Christian lady” whose faith in God was so complete and powerful. Despite having to deal with the terminal illness of her only son who at the time was readmitted to hospital for the last time, she still found the peace of mind to praise God and trust in his ultimate plans for her son. When any of the regulars in the park will enquire about the boy, she would invariably reply with a smile grounded in her faith in her God, and quietly say:
“He is in the hands of Jesus, and by His stripes he is healed”

And when he subsequently succumbed to the ravages of his illness, Mary took a few days off to mourn and then returned to the park to continue her work. Even with a heart laden with grief, she continued to smile and greet the regulars with words of support and encouragement and a heartfelt prayer to “Praise Jesus, Thank you Jesus for everything”. When someone will offer her sympathy at her recent loss, she would reply with profound pride and conviction, “Thank you Jesus, he is now a soldier in Jesus’ army”

Like so many people, Mary’s early life was spent in the pursuit of personal pleasure without any regard to personal pride or dignity. Mixing with the wrong people, she was oblivious to the demands of decency and self respect. She was lost, and did not care about consequences. She was clearly unable or unconcerned about her downward path into damnation. She neglected every one who meant anything to her and was not bothered with her family responsibility and care. That meant nothing to her.

She recalls her moment of truth taking place on a fateful day when she found her self among people who worshiped Satan and being invited to become one. This was enough to create such a cataclysmic response that she ran out in shear terror and immediately sought out a Christian church. The events which then occurred are indelibly printed in her brain and she does not miss any opportunity to relate it to anyone who will listen. She refers to the occurrence as "her conversion”, when in desperation she opened a bible and in spite of the fact that she could not read, she swears that she was able to read and understand the written words. Christ was alive and his message was one of love and forgiveness to all sinners.

From then on, like Mary Magdalene of old, after her conversion she became a devoted follower of Jesus Christ. Her message is simple. She loves everyone as brothers and sisters, bears no malice towards anyone and prays for all people. She is now a true soldier for Jesus. Her life is now spent in living and spreading the message. Her faith is strong and her belief in God’s love and goodness is unshakable. Her life is spent in helping where ever she can, sharing and supporting when ever the need arising and taking care of those in need in what ever way possible. This extends to living creatures including the birds in the park.

In her own very simple way, Mary has found the true way of life that all good Christians aspire and hope for. She has no material riches to show and does not ever wear designer clothes. In fact whatever clothes she accumulates, she is likely to pass on to one of her needy church brothers or sisters. But unlike the “Madonnas” and the “Britneys” of the world, she is not lost anymore. She does not have to spend all her days accumulating wealth and recognition, while searching for the next “pleasure” or the next “adoration”. She knows that she is truly loved by the one person who matters. Rather, she spends her days in the way he has taught us to do, by loving her neighbors as herself, forgiving others who trespass against her and giving glory to her God.

Is it any surprise that Mary is sought after by so many of the regulars in the park when they feel the need to pray?

LIFE'S VICTORIES

During the month of October, my attention was drawn to a series of personal stories written by survivors of Breast Cancer in celebration of “Breast Cancer Month” in the local newspaper, under the heading Life’s Victories. As a practicing Physician for more than 50 years, I have treated and cared for many hundreds of cancer patients and have shared a variety of sad and painful and hopeful and happy moments with my patients and their family, all of which I cherish and thank God for granting me the opportunity to do so.

On this occasion however, these stories have impacted me more intensely since, in the last year or two, I found myself a concerned participant in such a battle. Ever since my wife was diagnosed with cancer of the breast I found that despite all the years of carefully cultivating the cloak of the “all knowing, unflappable, supportive physician always ready with the right advice or the right answer”, I was as vulnerable and as reactive as anyone else and that I needed the same kind of support as I had offered to others. I found myself for the first time in a paradoxical “no-man’s land”. On the one hand as the physician, I was expected to know all and make all the right decisions, and as a husband and life partner, to be caring, supporting, encouraging and sharing with my wife as she navigated through the stormy seas of Surgeons and Oncologists and Mammograms and CT Scans and Pet Scans and Hospitals and Radiation and Chemotherapy. It was, and indeed is, a most humbling experience and one which, despite my many years of clinical experience, has taught me a great deal about my own inner humanity.

As I read the stories, basically simple comments made from the heart by the survivors, I was struck by the strength and character of these people, who had resolutely endured the pain, suffering and uncertainty of their journey and came through stronger and more resilient. To me they clearly spoke volumes to the resilience of the human character and the ability to rise above the onslaught of adversity. I can do no better to honor these people than to provide a brief quote from a selected few of their many stories published under the banner of “Life’s Victories”. (link attached)*

“To never give up hope, that breast cancer is not a death sentence, and to be sure to surround yourself around supportive, loving people”.
……Cindy

“My battle with cancer was an opportunity for me to learn so much about how my lifestyle choices can contribute to, or detract from, the health of my body, mind, and spirit”. ….. Genienne

“Don't assume someone else's experience will be yours. I can't say how many UNNECESSARY sleepless nights I had worried I was going to have side effects or pains that others talked about in forums that never came”.
….. Marsha

“In some ways breast cancer has been a positive experience for me. Having breast cancer has empowered me. I have strength & courage I never thought I had. I have gained so much knowledge regarding what is going on inside of my body & my appreciation for life is sky high. I have made the most wonderful friends. These are bonds that will never be broken”.
….. Abbe

“My advise to someone just diagnosed is to stay calm, it will be all right. This is just another chapter in your life, you will get through this with the help of your family and friends and loved ones. . …. Virginia

To anyone who is going through this experience, take one day at a time, and be positive. And remember: this too shall pass”. ….. Marie

“One of the best lessons I've learned is how beautiful people can be and that a positive attitude is one of the best drugs you can take”.
…. Sandra


“My advice is to find happiness in your life's purpose. Don't be afraid to be yourself. Make up your mind that you will survive. Be strong, proactive, collect information and make educated decisions”. …… Dawn

“Through this journey I heard so many inspiring cancer survival stories that my outlook on life has changed. I want to enjoy life to the fullest and make myself as happy as possible because I am alive and well”.
….. Kathleen

“Some people might say I was lucky because I found my tumor early. But I didn't find my tumor because of luck. I found it because of knowledge and awareness. I knew that I should perform breast self-exams and I was aware of what my body was supposed to feel like”. …..Debbie

As for my wife, I continue to marvel at the calm and courageous demeanor that she has brought to bear as she continues on her journey to “the cure”. I have no doubt that a great deal of this is related to the competence and professionalism of her treating physicians and to the strong and unwavering support of her children, her family and her many loyal friends. But above all this, there is her unbending and overwhelming faith in her God and her destiny, and her belief that her God will never abandon her. Her favorite quotation to which she holds firmly and with conviction is from Book of Isaiah 43:2:

“When you go through the sea, I am with you.
When you go through rivers, they will not sweep you away.
When you walk through fire, you will not be burned,
and the flames will not harm you”.




http://www.orlandosentinel2.com/data/breastcancer/individual.php?view=0*

LIFE WITH CHOICES

I recently received the following short story from my son about life, and the choices you can make. It has so impressed me with its simple yet powerful wisdom that I felt it was worthy of passing on to every one who finds himself in need. I do not know the source which for the time being, remains unknown. It is reproduced exactly as I received it;

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A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed that as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each one on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs and in the last one she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil, without saying a word.

After about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished out the carrots and placed them in a bowl. She then pulled the eggs out and placed in another bowl, then ladled the coffee out and placed it into a third bowl. Turning to her daughter she asked, “Tell me what you see?”

“Carrots, eggs and coffee” the daughter replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did, and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked her to take an egg, break it and remove the shell. She observed it to be hard boiled. Finally, the mother asked her to sip the coffee. After sipping it, she smile as she enjoyed the rich aroma of the coffee.

Puzzled, the daughter asked: “What does all this mean, mother?”

Her mother explained that this is a lesson in life. Each of these objects had faced the same adversity, boiling water and each had reacted differently.
----The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting, but after being subjected to boiling water came out softened and weak.
----The egg was fragile and needed the outer shell to protect its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, it became hardened and dry.
----The ground coffee beans were unique however, for after they were in the boiling water, they actually changed the water into something much more pleasing.

After a short pause, she looked at her daughter and slowly asked her:

“When adversity knocks on your door, how will you respond?
Will you be a Carrot, an Egg or a Coffee Bean?”

LIVING WITH MEMORIES

Recently I had the most satisfying and rewarding experience of meeting with a colleague whom I had last seen fifty two years ago when we both graduated. Although we had not seen or communicated with each other for all this while, it was amazing how readily the memories of that period came flowing back and how easy we were able to recall events that had taken place so many years ago. Over the short span of a few hours we were able to restore and recall encounters, faces and events that had laid buried in our memory banks for so many years, and experience emotions that had remained dormant for as long. For a brief period I was young again, reliving the past, savoring the faces and the visions of people and places I had not seen for many years and most importantly, feeling the emotions that once dominated my life and had remained buried for many decades by all my subsequent life experiences.

“Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love,
the things you are,
the things you never want to lose”.

These words taken from the popular television show “The Wonder Years”, which appeared on ABC during 1988 to 1993, epitomize the basic meaning of memories to most of us. They play a very fundamental role in the lives of every one of us. It is through our memories that we learn to live and to acquire skills and learn to avoid dangers. It is by remembering events in our lives and the outcomes of these events that we learn and acquire new skills. And equally, it is by remembering our mistakes and errors that we learn to correct ourselves. In these ways memories serve to define us as who we are and who we strive to be. In the end, it is only by remembering what we, or others, have done or did not do, can we learn who we truly are or want to be.

But memories are very subjective and unless we are careful, they can become distorted over time by our attitudes and interpretations. Most of us have a tendency to take for granted the reliability of our memory and to assume that it will be always serve us well. The truth is that even in optimum conditions we generally remember only those things we want to remember or that have impacted us, positively or negatively, in a significant way. I am sure we can all attest to instances where our memory of an event or situation is colored more by its effect on us than by the actual occurrence. We tend to suppress anything which may cause us pain or disappointment so much that when it is recalled later, much of it is erased. Extensive research has confirmed the unreliability and inconsistency of memory in accurately recording and reproducing an event. So much depends on the individual, his state of mind and the prevailing conditions that we should all be very careful when giving total credence to a memory.

That not withstanding, memories occupy a very important and integral part of our lives and there is very little that we do that does not involve the use, in one way or another, of our memory. From the moment of waking and throughout the day all our thoughts, actions or decisions are subject to, and under the influence of our memories. We choose what we wear, or what we eat or what we say by referring to our past memory and then deciding. The more complex the decision, the more dependent we are on our ability to process information from our memory banks. In fact in some ways, the fundamental difference between average and intelligent behavior is the ability to efficiently process our memories.

It should be no surprise that anything which interferes with our memories will profoundly affect our behavior. We see this in a reversible form following the use of alcohol, drugs and toxic states and in its most tragic and painful state in the chronic brain disorders associated with Alzheimer’s Dementia or Strokes. Anyone who has had to spend sometime observing or taking care of such people will not ever fail to recognize the appalling damage to the person resulting from the loss of the memory systems. This indeed underlines the dramatic effect of the power of memory in our lives and the supreme tragedy that occurs when it is lost.

Charles Baudelaire, the eminent nineteenth century French poet and critic, who was often ridiculed as the father of criticism, most eloquently described this tragedy in his own life as he recognized his brain being progressively consumed with Syphilis:

“How little remains of the man I once was, save the memory of him!
But remembering is only a new form of suffering”.

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Memories are the treasures locked deep within the storehouse of our souls;
To keep our hearts warm when we are lonely.
…….Becky Aligada

Take care of all your memories.
You cannot relive them.
…..Bob Dylan

It doesn't matter who my father was;
It matters who I remember he was.
…..Ann Sexton

We must always keep old memories,
and young hopes.
……Arsene Houssave

The richness of life lies in memories we have forgotten
……Cesare Pavese

Our memories are the only paradise,
From which we cannot be expelled.
…..Jean-Paul Richter

It's surprising how much memory is built,

around things unnoticed at the time.

......Barbara Kingsolver

Anyone who limits her vision to memories of yesterday,
is already dead.
……..Lillie Langtry

Nothing fixes a thing so intensely in the memory
as the wish to forget it.
……Michel de Montaigne