• Priscilla Nason Shartle

hearthealthyboomer

~ Living healthy after age seventy.

hearthealthyboomer

Tag Archives: joy

Just Stand

26 Friday Jun 2015

Posted by prisnasonshartle in Standing in Faith

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abdominal adhesions, blessed, divine energy, Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, God, good health, hysterectomy, joy, life, lower abdomen, pain, robotic surgery, scar tissue, sixty-three years old

When he was asked what was the secret of an energized life Dr. Norman Vincent Peale said, “Christ is the answer.” Reminding us that in John, we read, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” When I focus on Christ as the divinity in humankind and God as divine energy expressing in each of us, I live and move and have my being. And the next time I feel sluggish or tired, I’ll pick myself up remembering what it means to have a life filled with energy, exuberance, and joy.

Two years ago I had a hysterectomy. I was 63 years old. It was elective surgery due to a fibroid tumor on my uterus. My doctor said my life would be improved “100%,” her words. It was not. In fact the past two years have not been nearly as good as I expected for it took me months to get over the anesthesia; I gained more weight than expected; and I developed pain in my lower abdomen. Because I had a colonoscopy a few weeks before and because my doctor did extensive tests before the surgery, I was assured that I was in good health before going under. So when the pain started a few days after the surgery and continued, I called the doctor and made an appointment. After a sonogram and physical exam I was told it was phantom pain. But I never had pain before the surgery. So I was perplexed. Now two years later the pain is still present and intensified at times.

I am not one to let pain interfere with my life as those that know me can attest. I spent the last few days meditating and visualizing the pain, thanking it for being present so that I could come to resolution for its presence. I knew that it was a direct result of the surgery and never considered other reasons, but felt I needed an answer to what it was. Because I do a lot of research online, I was not afraid to look up my symptoms (although doctors tell us not to make diagnosis online). I went to WebMed and the Mayo Clinic, both reputable online medical sites. I finally narrowed it down and discovered one side effect of both robotic and cut/stitch types of hysterectomies are scar tissue or abdominal adhesions which cause pain in the lower abdomen. And now I have my answer.

In the end, all I need to do is just “stand,” as I am called to do in Ephesians. “Stand fast, I say.” I have done everything possible and am content leaving the results to God. I can now focus on the divine energy of the Christ expressing in me. I have life and I am blessed.

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Good for the Soul

22 Wednesday Apr 2015

Posted by prisnasonshartle in Good for the Soul

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God, Joni Bishop, joy, resonator guitar, Spirituals

Singer/Songwriter Joni Bishop sings, “I want to live so God can use me anytime, anywhere….”  This song as Joni said is hard to forget.  For me it reminds me to be accountable for my actions.  She uses a resonator guitar which reverberJoni Bishop CDates out into the world with such joy. Invented in the 1900’s, this guitar could be heard over the sounds of the outdoor spirituals.  Today, Joni’s sings her song with the same joy as only Spirituals can sound. When we talked, she told me this is one of her favorite CD’s that she published.  I can see why. Originally spirituals were sung in the call and response style.  And like her song, God calls me and I respond with the same joy; this is hard to forget. ~ Pris

It’s Not About the Lottery

29 Thursday Nov 2012

Posted by prisnasonshartle in Spreading Cheer

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fellowhip, God Thing, healthy attitude, joy, lottery tickets, love, small businesses, spreading cheer, winning

I didn’t win the Mega Million or the Power Ball last night and that’s okay.  I heard on the news yesterday that there was a 60% chance that no one would win.  I bought three tickets anyway.

Because it is not about winning, it’s about the thought of winning.  What would you do first?  Who would call?  How would you spend the money?  And would you let it change your life?

The first thing I would do is call a friend who is an attorney and seek his advice.  Then I’d call my family.  Spending the money for me does not mean going out and buying a new house, car, boat, and other luxuries.  I would divide the winning money into sections with the largest going into a foundation I would set up (with the help of an investment counselor), appoint a trusted friend and a member of the family to head up the foundation and make it available for worthy non-profit organizations.  The next portion would go into setting up a corporation that would be the parent company of small businesses.  I would not run the businesses; just invest in them to help create the small businesses.  And finally I would give my children the rest of the money to do with as they please; keeping the smallest portion for me and my husband.

It is here that it gets sticky because I do not believe in trust funds that can be portioned out at a certain date because I believe it enables children to not grow and thrive on their own (because they know the trust fund will be there one day.)  That is why I would just hand each child’s portion over to them.  They are grown children and have families of their own.  And if I have done my job right as parent by raising them well, then who am I do deny them the opportunity to build a better life?

There are thousands of stories of people who win the lottery and then trash their life and the lives of the people around them.  You are always going to find people who abuse a situation.  It is these people that bought the lottery ticket for the wrong reason.  And here I use the lottery ticket as a metaphor for all those things that weren’t good for us when we did it.

When I see people putting down other people because they bought a lottery ticket, it makes me sad.  Sad that they feel like they are better people because they didn’t buy a lottery ticket.  Sad that they can’t see the bigger picture – the fellowship at the local stores with everyone lined up to buy a ticket, the money generated to help with education and the money the businesses who sold the tickets make, but most importantly, the spirit of cheer spread throughout the country in anticipation.

In my book, that is a God Thing. Anywhere there is cheer, there is God.  My God lives in me enjoying life, living life to the fullest, appreciating and being grateful for the things I have and yes, spreading joy during the holiday season even if it means buying a lottery ticket.

And what could be healthier than the gift of joy at this time in our lives?

Peace!

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