Devotion: Can Chores Be a Good Thing?

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"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men." (Colossians 3:23). It needs to be recognized, right up front, that for some of us everyday chores may be impossible. For others, they require cutting back, or taking frequent rest periods. This devotional is intended to encourage you, not make you feel unnecessary guilt. Earlier this year, after I started coughing up a small amount of blood (and went into panic mode!) this subject came to mind. A few days later a large clot was disgorged, and I made an appointment with my doctor right away. Then I tried to keep my life as normal as possible, and discovered that doing routine tasks was a help. Having to focus on the now, and on familiar things, … [Read more...]

How In The World Do You Find Joy When Talking to Medical Bill Collectors?

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By Lisa Copen Sixteen months after I had four joints replaced in my hand I received a large bill that looked like a duplicate of one I had already paid. The name on the bill however, was "Joe." My husband's name (who carried the insurance) is Joel. I called the surgery center and explained that I believed there were two accounts and one was a duplicate of the other. The woman in accounting didn't believe so. "That is just how it is addressed," she explained. The bill is for Joel." "No," I replied. "Everything on this bill says Joe. I won't be paying this until I receive a bill with the correct name on it." "I see here your middle name is Joelle," she said. "Yes." "Well, that explains it then," she said with a satisfied sigh. Did … [Read more...]

Cherish And Records Your Life’s Memories This Summer

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Denton Harris I spent yesterday at the hospital bedside of a very close friend who had a stroke that left him completely blind. We spent hours reminiscing about our many years together, and I learned a lesson which I am passing on to you. My friend had just celebrated his 85th birthday. He was in the D-day invasion in World War II, wounded and later taken prisoner by the Germans. He has a wonderful wife and family. As he lay there, staring sightlessly at the ceiling, he said, "So many things I'd planned that I'll never get done." Tears flowed as he talked (I had a few also but he couldn't see them). "I can never see my children and grandchildren and all the things they are doing. I can't watch them become adults." "I have a … [Read more...]

The Museum Of disABILITY Is An Interesting Place to Visit

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Daniel J. Vance I recently happened upon a delightful surprise. While planning for a family vacation, I learned of an interesting tourist attraction: The Museum of disABILITY History in Buffalo, New York. "The museum is the result of the desire of Dr. James M. Boles," said 51-year-old Doug Platt, museum curator, in a telephone interview. "Boles was teaching an introduction to developmental disabilities course at University of Buffalo and wanted to direct his students to a website for a comprehensive look at how people with disabilities have been treated throughout the ages. There wasn't one. That's how the museum was born, in 1998." Boles also was president/CEO of People Inc., a New York nonprofit providing employment, residential, … [Read more...]

Carrying Super Rachel – The Logistics of When Your Wife Is Chronically Ill

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By Matt Horne Caring for a chronically ill wife is not what I had envisioned when I was working up the nerve to ask out "that hot girl" who would later become my wife. We were in college and she was on the cross country team. She let me know very early on in the relationship that she had a chronic illness. Nowadays, it's just part of life. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't know what to do with myself if she were well. There's a reason I call her "Super Rachel." On her good days, she can run circles around me--cleaning, getting things checked off her to-do list, and having tons of fun. She's amazing. On top of that, she has the greatest attitude and rarely lets her condition get her down. As her dad says, she's an "overcomer." Instead … [Read more...]

Crutches Don’t Have To Be Depressing! An Amazing Story

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Debbie Farmer "LemonAid Crutches"(TM) is the first company to create lovely designer crutches in rich, vivid colors and gorgeous, expressive fabrics. Being on crutches can be a sad, depressing experience, but this store makes it a bit more enjoyable and a whole lot more cheerful. On the LemonAid Crutches (TM) web site it shares, "No one wants to be on crutches. They hurt your hands, they hurt your arms and they certainly hurt your sense of style. Many have tried to tackle the challenge of adding comfort to an uncomfortable item, but duct tape and washcloths look…well…tacky. That's why we created designer crutch-wear that's not only comfortable, but fun and fabulous looking." Founder Laurie Johnson's personal testimony to … [Read more...]

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