From Darkness To Everlasting Light

My cup is flowing with thanks.

Mags, what happened to you? Did you have a stroke?

Hi.......Pneumonia and flu....so toxic it attacked my body.

Glad you're back and on the way to recovery. Heal swiftly.

Thank you.

You are a fighter - happy to see that you conquered it.  I hear too many stories about those who didn't.  My two year old grandson is going in for another open heart surgery this month.  It scares me that his defenses will be down, in a hospital loaded with dangerous microbes and inconsiderate assholes who decide it's okay to go visit their friends and loved ones in the hospital when they themselves are sick. 

My boss did that a couple months ago.  He was too sick to come to work, but his brother in law with pneumonia had slipped into a coma at the hospital - and he decided he wasn't too sick to go visit a dangerously ill person in a coma at the hospital.  The brother in law died a couple days later when the pneumonia turned septic.  I can't say for certain that my boss' sneezing germs made the poor guy's condition worse, but I can say for sure that he didn't need to be visiting an extremely sick person who was comatose, while he himself was too sick to make it to work.  That is a guy who thinks only about himself.

Your two year old grandson....my heart goes out to all of you.  I know you aren't much on prayer, but please, I would like to add him to my prayers. 

My two sons told me that when the doctors said they could do no more for me and that it was up to me, I am told they kept saying....fight, Mom.  I guess I did.

Dear Friend Hal: I am here for you and yours if how and as needed and requested.

Site private notes and personal emails the way to go, for confidentiality.

Enoch.

i'm very glad you are home and starting to recover - the ordeal you went through was amazingly horrible (the illness).  

The ordeal of the nightmare that I lived through for nine weeks will stay with me forever. 

Thank you fot your kind words.

I know we have often clashed, but I sincerely send you my best wishes to recover fully.

Only in politics....not the real things that matter.  Thank you, Paula.

I'm so sorry to hear it, so happy you're home and doing better, and I'll be pulling for you to continue healing - both mentally and physically. The mental nightmare is probably even harder on you than the physical effects.

You might want to consider one of those Life Alert necklaces, so you can get help immediately if you need it.  I got one for my mom (in her case, I had to get the type which goes off automatically, since she won't remember to push the button if she falls).  

As you know, I don't pray - but I will ask my Mom to send a prayer for you, and when I talk to her former priest this weekend (he's helping me to arrange for her to get communion as a shut-in, since I cannot get her interested in going to church any longer, just as she provided to others when she was a deacon), I will ask the same of him.  

Thank you for the prayers however they come.

I think I understand your Mom.  We tend to lose interest with no available energy.  Our kids want us to do things cause it makes them feel better. 

We tend to lose interest with no available energy.  Our kids want us to do things cause it makes them feel better. 

We do feel better if our parents are active and engaged, but reality has to kick in as well.  The question is .. what do you want?   Are there local groups who can get you more engaged and mentally active, get you to church, get you to volunteer, or whatever engages you and makes you want to get out of bed once you're physically able?   You fought your way out of this illness, something that might have killed someone else, so I don't think you want to give up.   What do you want your life to be like from here on out?

Mom and Father Mark have both said prayers for you, and will continue to do so.  I don't know your real name, and I don't need to.  Mom told me "God will know who I'm praying for."  I hope this brings you some comfort, and I hope that you take Enoch up on his offer to serve you as a chaplain .. if Mom didn't have dementia, she would have been very willing to serve you as a chaplain as well. 

God bless you, from my Mom and Father Mark .. and yes, even from me, because if my Mom's god does exist, it's a loving god who will bless you regardless of who asks, even if it's an atheist like me asking.  

Absolutely lovely message.  Thank you.

All of my energy is concentrated on getting well.  I have my family and friends. 

I have a Rev. Matt who is the pastor at my church.  He is wonderful. 

Please thank your Mother and Rev. Mark.  And, I sincerely thank you.

Dear Friend Katrix: Your prayers will be particularly well received "upstairs".

To illustrate why let me share from Tales of the Chassidic Masters by Martin Buber.

In another century in Central Europe the more affluent members of a large Congregation pooled resources to contract the services of a world famous Cantor to conduct the vocal parts of High Holy Day Services. This Chazan's rendition of the Mystically powerful Hymn Kol Nidre made his version the talk of the Torah True World. 

The Day of Days (Yom Kippur) arrived.

People from all over the area, even neighboring municipalities came to services there just to hear him sing the Kol Nidre.

The gifted and Reverend Cantor did not disappoint.

That night, the President of the Congregation was so overjoyed that they were able to obtain the Services of such a personage for these most important proceedings that he made a prayer of request prior to resting for the night. He requested some sign that all the community did to make this a great day in the eyes of the L-rd had gone as well as he felt they had. 

In the dark hours of the night a Seraph came to him in a dream.  

The Divine messenger spoke of how the very foundations of the heavens were shaken by the singing of the Kol Nidre that dusk in that Congregation. 

Smiling in his sleep, the President of the Shul dream communicated how pleased all that sacrificed to engage the talents of this famous Cantor would be to hear this.

On no, no, no insisted the Seraph. I refer not to the professional musicologist. It is the one in tattered clothes and shoes with holes in them sitting in the back of the Congregation that moved the Holy One, Blessed Be.

Him, exclaimed the President. He is indigent. We let him in so he can be part of the services. Then we feed him when we break the fast of the holiday in our own home. He is a charity case. Not a globally celebrated Chazan.

That is as my be, communicated the Seraph. But he sang not with focus on his vocal mastery. The one in the back sung the prayer with such pure conviction and belief, that is what so moved the Source and all who serve Him on high.

You see, it isn't the person, or their situation that matters to G-d. It is the sincerity of the prayer that earns approval of the Master of the Universe (Ribbonah shel Oylom).

Never think that your prayers do not matter, or are not well received.

They are.

Yours most of all!

Peace and Abundant Blessings to You and Yours.

Enoch.    

What a wonderful illustration. 

Enoch, I wrote an article just for you a few minutes ago.  Mags, you might enjoy it as well. 

When we were asked to name people for specific prayers, I named three people - one close friend, one rather good acquaintance, and Mags.  

My dear mags, I am so sorry you've been going through such a dire medical crisis, I can't even imagine, and I've been through some of my own stuff as you know.  I can't believe how bad this flu season was, I've been lucky but have known so many who have had flu, pneumonia, bronchitis and such multiple times, I've not seen anything like it for quite a few years. 

I totally understand how lack of energy makes one feel though. When I was undergoing my treatment I've never felt so low.  When you have no energy even listening to things (like news) makes it worse.  I remember laying in bed and fully understanding how people are just done living.  It wasn't that I wanted to go, I just didn't have enough in me to care.  If I died then I would have been fine with it, although when the energy came back (and it took a couple of years before I actually felt like my old self) I was back with the living.  And you will be too.  Its scary when our body doesn't do what its supposed to do, its hard to push out those thoughts of cooties in your body that are causing harm.   You have been through so much the last few years, I think those traumas cause breaches in our immune system.  Be careful with what you allow into your orbit  - good positive people, not too much news (hard for me, but you can tell how it sucks the life right out just hearing things), eat right, meditate (or learn to relax and do breathing exercises). I send you prayers and light.

Hi lib:

My son said to me this morning....Mom, I don't believe you.  I said, what?  He said, just weeks ago in the ER they gave you no chance to live.  You are bathing yourself, walking....I told him I am not so great.  Those who are paralyzed and those who have no chance to recover are the ones.  He said, no, the doctors said your recovery would   be long and you may not. 

In re hab there was nothing but despair.  At home, my mind is on visualizing walking, cleaning house, being with grandchildren, cooking, etc.  I don't want strangers coming to my home.  I have such wonderful memories.  It is like watching re runs of my favorite movies.

I am glad you are alright.  You have been through a lot and survived. 

As have you (gone through so much).   I'm just happy you are back amongst the living and have a loving son and family to keep you going, and look forward to hearing about your recovery.

Dear Friend Lib50: It is most pleasing to see how well you are doing.

Also that you are so sharing of positive and constructive recommendations to a fellow News Talker community member.

Well done.

We call your good works Gemillat Chassadim. Acts of loving kindness.

We need all of those we can get.

Thank you for your contribution.

Peace and Abundant Blessings to You and Yours Always,.

Enoch.

You have got the most positive loving energy and outlook of anybody I've seen, and I thank you for always bringing us up.  Blessings to you and yours as well.

Dear Friend lib50: Most welcome.

Smiles.

E.

I'm glad you pulled through, mag.

Thank you.