PRAYER FOR MENTAL ILLNESS

NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK

OCTOBER 5- 11, 2008

O Lord, you have searched us and known us

You know when we sit down and when we rise up,

and know our innermost thoughts.

You search out our paths and know all our ways.

Before we speak, you know our words.

When we were knit together in our mother's womb

You knew us as woman, as child, as man.

Wherever we go, Your hand will lead us.

So guide us along the pathways to hope,

that night becomes bright as day.

So lead us on our walk together,

that darkness is lifted from our hearts.

So encourage us that our sisters and brothers

Who have mental illness shall know that

they never walk alone.

Amen

WHY US ??

Sometimes in life, things go wrong and this is what happened with my daughter. At age 12-13 she started acting out. My first husband had just moved on to "greener pastures" (and he never looked back) leaving me alone with my two daughters to cope the best as I could. This was a particularly bad time for him to leave, because his daughter needed him so badly. I was working full time, trying t0 make ends meet, and also take care of my family. He left us with very little money to live on. Back then the child support laws were bad, not like they are in todays enviroment. I refused to go on welfare. It just wasn't something I would consider. I had always been taught to work hard and do the best you could to provide for your family.

My daughter, up until she was about 12-13 years of age, excelled in school, won first prize in a poetry contest for the Ladies Community Club. She won a bicycle for gathering the most donations for the American Cancer Society. My father was dying of cancer, and she thought this was a wonderful tribute for him, which it was. My father passed away from cancer at age 62. My daughter was so pleased she had been able to honor my Dad by her actions with the ACS.

One day, it was like a light-switch went off -my daughter's complete personality changed almost over night. She started sluffing school, running away, and just doing things that were out of character, and destructive. It concerned me greatly, because, first her behaviour was so out of character, and I was alone. Back in those days, everything was blamed on bad parenting and bad behavior. Little did we know, that YEARS down the line, her behavior would have a word assigned to it. Yes, it was heartbreaking to see this happen to a beautiful young girl. It was like a whirl wind...and I couldn't stop it from happening. My pleas to her father to help, went on deaf ears.

For years, I was alone, working and trying to make ends meet. Many nights I would be out looking for my daughter, then go to work the next day, without sleeping. I firmly believe some Higher Power was watching out for me, because many times I would be able to find her and bring her home. Sometimes though, I couldn't, and those were troublesome times for both of us. Running away from home, for young girls, is not good. They are extremely vulnerable. The expression "when bad things happen to good people" would certainly apply. Some of the things that happened had far-reaching consequences. The biggest concern for me was, that she would come home alive at all. Being out alone, at such a tender, young age, is asking for trouble. She was with a peer group that wasn't the best.

After a couple of years of running away, her behavior started to become more bizarre. I didn't know what was going on, and back in the "old days" there wasn't the help and knowledge available that there is now. I have thought many times to myself, how unfortunate this was, because now there is so much more knowledge, less stigma, and more acceptance of mental illness and far better treatment. Mental illness was a taboo subject way back when. Mental illness is a hard hand to be dealt....both to the person and also to the family. Many times families walk away because it is easier than dealing with all the issues. I couldn't walk away though...she is my daughter and I love her (but sometimes it is very difficult to keep this perspective.) I will continue our story again soon.

But I want to leave you with a thought.....WHEN LIFE HANDS YOU LEMONS, MAKE LEMONADE !!!!

REMEMBER !!

Remember that your presence is a present to the world.

Remember that you are a unique and unrepeatable creation.

Remember that your life can be what you want it to be.

Remember to count your blessing, not your troubles.

Remember that you'll make it through whatever comes along.

Remember that most of the answers you need are within you.

Remember those dreams waiting to be realized.

Remember that decisions are too important to leave to chance.

Remembers to always reach for the best that is within you.

Remember that nothing wastes more energy than worry.

Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

Remember not to take things too seriously.

Remember to laugh.

Remember that a little love goes a long way.

Remember that a lot goes forever.

Remember that happiness is more often found in giving that getting.

Remember that life's treasures are people, not things.

REMEMBER THAT MIRACLES WILL HAPPEN !!

JUST PLAIN GOOD ADVICE

"Whenever encountering a troublesome person, do not identify him as being cruel or stupid or rude or anything else like that. Instead, see him as a frightened person." Vernon Howard

We all know people who are habitually rude, obnoxious, or just plain jerks. Why they behave that way is usually backed in some form of fear. Fear of being found out, fear of the unknown, or fear of being hurt (this one has many forms.)

Yoda...may have been a fictitious character but he taught a wise truth when he said..."Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate...and hate leads to the Dark Side!:

The opposite of fear is faith...or a belief and a hope that things can get better, things can work out, that we can do it, or that others will and do want us to succeed. Nurturing faith and hope through the creation of vision in others is one of the greatest challenges of leadership.

This wonderful tidbit is from Kirk Weisler....Thanks Kirk for giving me permission to put some of your daily thoughts on my blog.

TWO BOXES

I have in my hands two boxes

Which God gave me to hold.

He said, "Put all your sorrows in the black box,

And all your joys in the gold."

I heeded His words, and in the two boxes,

Both my joys and sorrows I stored,

But though the gold box became heavier each day,

The black was as light as before.

With curiosity, I opened the black,

I wanted to find out why,

And I saw, in the base of the box, a hole,

Which my sorrows had fallen out by.

I showed the hole to God, and mused,

"I wonder where my sorrows could be!"

He smiled a gentle smile and said,

"My Child, the gold is for you to count your blessings,

The black is for you to let go."

EVENING PRAYER

MY FATHER AND MOTHER

BLESSED ARE YOU, LORD OUR GOD, WHO HAS GIVEN US HOLY PARENTS.

Lord of life, we are a grateful for the gift of parents, grandparent's, and great-grandparents.
These persons, who were chosen by You for us, have shared with us not only life,
but a multitude of gifts and talents as well.


We are each indeed home-made, and our parents were the doorway, by which we entered into the Wonder of Life.
In our grandparents, we sensed and felt the thread of history and the treasures of tradition that lay within our family. We ask that those who guided our early steps and called forth our latent talents, may be richly rewarded by You, their Divine Parent.

In the long tradition of Holy Parents, of Abraham and Sara, Isaac and Rebecca, Jacob and Rachel, may our parents be blessed by Your Faithful Love.

May all teachers, guides and friends who have, at times, been a parental-person to us, be blessed as well by Your Divine Compassion and Care.

Show us, O Lord, whom we call Father, how we can express our gratitude to those who have given us live, by living the lives of Light and Life.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, who has given us holy parents.

Amen

This is for my parents, who taught us that life is good, "things" do not matter and how to treat people. They were always good examples of how life should be lived, and even through the toughest of times, to pray and keep smiling.

They were good examples and I now find, the older I get, just how smart they were in teaching us kids the values in life that really count. Daddy passed away at the young age of 62 from cancer, and Mama was with us until she was 82. Moms mind was so sharp and she loved to read.

IT'S A WONDERFUL WORLD !!

I am posting this song again, because on my last blog, it is the one I loved the most. The song says how I feel about life. Sometimes, when I feel I need a boost, I simply play it, and feel better right away. Kind of keeps things in perspective for me.....

ONE MORE MEMORY

A good friend of mine, Marge (her husband is Jack) told me about this video. Marge's dear Mother, Lottie Almond, passed away from Alzheimer's, as did my sweet Aunt Mary Enright. Anyone who has lost a loved one with Alzheimer's disease knows the heartache of seeing one we love, go to a place so far away. This video touched my heart, as I hope it will touch your heart. And Lura, this is for your family member who is suffering right now.

CLIMB THE HIGHEST YOU CAN

We are all God's children and He loves us, every one.

He freely and completely forgives all that we have done.

Asking only if we're ready to go where He leads,

Content that in His wisdom, He answers all our needs.

The children sitting in the tree, are two of our grest-grandchildren, Lydia and Tessa.

As you can see, they are "sitting on top of the world " !!!

by: Helen Steiner Rice

KNOWLEDGE IS THE KEY

Believe in yourself.

It isn't always easy.

Go slowly, enjoy the view;

take time to heal the pain;

rebuild yourself gently

enhance your awareness.

Knowledge is the key.

Learn to soar

so you can be free.

I AM BACK !!!

Long ago, in a day far away, I deleted by blog. I find I am miss posting my thoughts for the day and the poems...so here goes again. Hi Granny Staffy, Cinderelen, Tonia, Tegan, Dayna and Holly.

SEPTEMBER

The golden rod is yellow,

The corn is turning brown,

The trees in peach orchards

With the fruit are bending down.

The gentian's bluest fringes,

Are curling in the sun;

In dusty pods the milkweed

It's hidden silk has spun;

The sedges flaunt their harvest

In every meadow nook,

And asters by the brook side

Make aster in the brook.

Every dewy lanes at morning

The grapes' odor rise

At noon the roads all flutter

With yellow butterflies...

By all those lovely tokens

September's days are here,

With summer's best of weather

And autumn' best of cheer !!

by: helen hunt jackson