After I lost Bill, I never thought I’d ever love again or even want to be in another relationship. I was an old woman with children and grandchildren. I was content to live a quiet, unassuming life, puttering around in my garden and swimming. Then, I met you. You reminded so much of Bill. If I’d known you were a charlatan…
61 Words
This is for the Weekend Writing Prompt by Sammi Cox. For instructions, click HERE.
This is the latest Persecution and Prayer alert from The Voice of the Martyrs Canada. Sadly, a grandmother and two of her grandchildren were among those who lost their lives. Please read this story and then visit the Prayer Wall and pray for her surviving granddaughter and the other survivors who have lost their loved ones. Jesus warned that in the last days, there will be persecution (Luke 21:16-18). As His disciples, we will be persecuted just as He was (John 15:20). The Bible says, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). Lift up our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ in prayer. We are encouraged to, “Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also” (Hebrews 13:3). But, we have a hope that no one can take away. “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?” (1 Thessalonians 2:19). May these words bring joy and comfort to our hearts and the hearts of those who are going through much tribulation.
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NIGERIA: Villagers Fatally Wounded by Gunmen Sources: Morning Star News, Release International
Last month, Fulani herdsmen attacked two homes in the predominantly Christian village of Hwak Kwata-Zawan, located near the city of Jos. The militants also raided a nearby compound consisting of Nigerians who had been initially displaced by violence elsewhere in the country’s Plateau state. The total number of fatalities resulting from the raids has reached 15, leaving many more in the community grief-stricken and emotionally wounded. In one of the village homes, 57-year-old Rose Monday was killed while trying to protect her three young grandchildren from the gunmen. Two of the three children had unfortunately succumbed to their injuries. Their elder sister, five-year-old Anna, who miraculously survived, is receiving treatment in hospital for gunshot wounds. Rose’s daughter (the children’s aunt) added that their remaining relatives are consoled to know that one day they will all be reunited as a family with the Lord Jesus Christ. The other Christian home that was attacked belonged to Gyang Christopher Choji who managed to escape the raid uninjured. The 58-year-old believer explains that his family members had retired to their rooms when they suddenly heard gunshots at about 8:30 p.m. “When the shooting became intense, and we were under siege, I advised my family that we run out to save our lives,” he further testifies. “I was able to escape, but five members of my family were brutally killed by these gunmen.” The seven other victims that were killed during the raids were from the nearby compound housing. The gunmen had apparently visited the area earlier that day to survey the village while most of the residents were at church. The militants even had the audacity to ask local children for water while planning their vicious attacks. The resulting raids have left an entire village in a terrible state of shock and greatly traumatized. Church leaders say the attacks of the Fulani herdsmen on their communities constitute a war “by Islam to eliminate Christianity” in Nigeria. Additional reports and informative video documentaries are available at the Nigeria Country Report. In an area of Nigeria that has experienced so much chaos and pain, may the comforting presence of the Holy Spirit bring the surviving villagers and family members greatly needed peace, healing and hope — along with the assurance that the martyred Christians so dear to them have merely been transported spiritually to their true home in heaven where they are now enjoying the glorious presence of our Lord Jesus in all fullness (2 Cor. 5:8; Luke 23:43). May this truth be especially real for little Anna, as she recovers not only from the physical wounds she sustained as a result of the attacks but, even more importantly, from the emotional and spiritual trauma of witnessing the horrific loss of her loving grandmother and young siblings. Also pray that the calloused hearts of the Fulani herdsmen be radically transformed by the power of the Living God, helping them to realize the seriousness of their crimes against His beloved people prior to that time of reckoning — when they must stand face-to-face before Him on Judgement Day. To post a prayer on behalf of Christians who are suffering terrible abuses and injustices for their faith, visit our prayer wall. |
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How many women can claim to be the wife of one Prime Minister and the mother of another? On Monday, October 19, 2015, Margaret Trudeau watched as the results came in announcing her son Justin Trudeau as Canada’s next Prime Minister. She watched as her son and his party went from being third in the long race to head the race and then make history as they won, garnering 184 seats, exceeding the majority of 170 seats. According to Michael Den Tandt:
Justin Trudeau, the eldest son of Pierre Elliott Trudeau, has resurrected his party, confounded his critics, defied the naysayers and trolls, overcome his own mistakes and resoundingly defeated two tough, smart, determined opponents who cannot have imagined anything like this outcome.
A minority was presaged by many polls. A majority, and a broad one at that, is beyond the Liberals’ wildest hopes.
In pulling this off, Trudeau, 43, has made history. Canada has its first political dynasty.
I can just imagine the pride that filled Margaret and no doubt, she thought of her former husband, Pierre and how proud he would have been of their son. When she held the infant Justin in her arms, did she ever imagine that he would one day follow in his father’s footsteps?
As I watched her with her daughter-in-law, son and grandchildren in their hotel room watching the results, I wondered who this woman was. What was her story?
Margaret was born in Vancouver to Doris Kathleen and James Sinclair, a former Liberal member of the Parliament of Canada and the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. She attended Simon Fraser University where she studied English Literature.
At the age of 18, when vacationing in Tahiti, she met Pierre Trudeau, then Minister of Justice. It seemed like she was destined to be in the world of politics. Interestingly enough, Margaret didn’t recognize Pierre and thought little of their encounter. However, he was captivated by this carefree “flower child”. She was thirty years his junior but that didn’t stop him from pursuing her.
When he became Prime Minister in 1968, Pierre was still a bachelor. After keeping their relationship private, he stunned the country by marrying 22 year old Margaret in 1971 at a private ceremony in West Vancouver. Not surprisingly, the age difference raised some eyebrows among Canadians but this behaviour was typical of the Prime Minister who “prided himself on his progressive views and youthful vigour”.
Pierre Trudeau was a Catholic so Margaret converted to his religion. When asked about her role in her marriage to the Prime Minister, she said, “I want to be more than a rose in my husband’s lapel.”
Life as the wife of a Prime Minister was not easy. It took some adjusting for Margaret. She wrote in her memoirs, “a glass panel was gently lowered into place around me, like a patient in a mental hospital who is no longer considered able to make decisions and who cannot be exposed to a harsh light.” They had three children, Justin being the eldest. They appeared to have a very close and loving relationship but the marriage soon began to fall apart. Margaret resented her husband’s frequent work-related absences. She was forced to raise their sons on her own. What a change this must have been for the woman who was once described as “carefree”.
Her publicity didn’t come solely from her high-profile position, unfortunately. She made headlines when she smuggled drugs in her husband’s luggage, made scantily clad appearances at Studio 54 and ripped apart a tapestry in the Prime Minister’s official residence in Ottawa because it celebrated “reason over passion”.
The marriage disintegrated. This led to an affair with U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy. She associated with Ronnie Wood and Mick Jagger, members of the Rolling Stones. She suffered from stress and bouts of bipolar depression. In 1977, she separated from her husband. She became a jet-setter and gave many “tell-all” interviews to Canadian and American magazines. She even appeared in two motion pictures. Pierre Trudeau won custody of the children and did not pay spousal support. Margaret had a difficult time earning a learning after her marriage. She wrote Beyond Reason, a book about her marriage. On the eve of 1979 Pierre’s party lost the majority of seats in the House of Commons. At the same time, Margaret was at Studio 54 in New York. A photo of her was featured on many front pages across Canada.
The Trudeaus divorced in 1984. Not long after, Margaret married Fried Kemper, Ottawa real-estate developer. They had two children. Unlike her first marriage, Margaret was able to disappear from the public eye. In 1998, Margaret experienced a devastating tragedy. Michel, her youngest son with Pierre, was killed in an avalanche. This led to another major depressive episode which ended her second marriage.
In 2000, when Pierre died Margaret was at his bedside with their sons, Justin and Alexandre.
Just because our marriage ended didn’t mean the love stopped – Margaret speaking of Trudeau.
What is Margaret up these days? She is the honorary president of WaterAid Canada, an organization in Ottawa, dedicated to helping the poorest communities in developing countries to have access to safe water, improved hygiene and sanitation. She has written the book, The Time of Your Life: Choosing A Vibrant Joyful Future in which she offers insights into how women can live healthy, happy lives and provides stories about her own life..
Notes to Women would like to commend Margaret for the work she has been doing since she announced in 2006 that she had been suffering from bipolar disorder. Through speaking engagements across North America, she has advocated for reducing the social stigma of mental illness, particularly bipolar disorder. She is an honorary patron of the Canadian Mental Health Association. She wrote about her personal experience with bipolar disorder in Changing My Mind.
She now resides in Montreal so she can be closer to her sons Justin and Alexandre. She was there in person to celebrate Justin’s historic win with him. Margaret Trudeau is not just the wife of Pierre Trudeau or the mother of Justin Trudeau. She is the voice of those who suffer from mental illness. She is an inspiration for women who have battled and are battling mood swings. She has shown that with the right doctors and right treatment, women who suffer from mental illness can rebuild their lives.
If you or someone you know would like to learn more about bipolar disorder, visit this link.
TORONTO, ON- MARCH 25 – Margaret Trudeau has written a new book,The Time of Your Life….about enjoying a joyful old age .She is seen here in Harper Collins office downtown Toronto at in Toronto, March 25, 2015. Colin McConnell/Toronto Star
Sources: Wikipedia; National Post
“If You will indeed deliver the people of Ammon into my hands, then it will be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the people of Ammon, shall surely be the Lord’s, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering” – Judges 11:30, 31
I read this story again today and it filled me with sadness. Jephthah was a mighty man of valor but was driven out of his home by his step-brothers because his mother was a harlot. He went to the land of Tob where he fell into the company of worthless men he went raiding with.
When the nation of Amnon made war against Israel, the elders of the Israelite people went to Jephthah for help. He reminded them of how they had treated him and wanted to know why they were now seeking his help. They promised him that if he would fight for them, they would make him their head over all the inhabitants of Gilead. Jephthah agreed. He went with them and they made him their head and commander. Before he went to war, Jephthah gave the king of Ammon the opportunity to call a truce but he refused to listen.
God’s Spirit was upon Jephthah as he advanced toward the people of Ammon. It was at this time that he made a vow to the Lord. The Lord delivered the people of Ammon into his hands. When he returned home after his great victory, his daughter came to meet him, happy to see him and and he was devastated. He had made a vow to the Lord that whatever came out of his house to meet him when he returned from fighting the Ammonites, will be the Lord’s. It never occurred to him that his daughter, his only child, would be the one to come out to meet him.
When he saw her, he tore his clothes and cried, “Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low! You are among those who trouble me! For I have given my word to the Lord, and I cannot go back on it.”
So she said to him, “My father, if you have given your word to the Lord, do to me according to what has gone out of your mouth, because the Lord has avenged you of your enemies, the people of Ammon.” Then she said to her father, “Let this thing be done for me: let me alone for two months, that I may go and wander on the mountains and bewail my virginity, my friends and I.” She had accepted her fate.
For two months she and her friends bewailed her virginity on the mountains. And at the end of the two months, she returned to her father and he honored his vow to the Lord. She never knew a man. She remained a virgin until she died. Jephthah never had any grandchildren.
How sad it must have been for this young girl who like most girls dreamed of one day falling in love and getting married. She would never know the joy of being a wife and a mother. If a man showed any interest in her she would have to reject him. How it must have been hard to see her friends get married and have children. She may have held some of those children in her arms, knowing that she would never be able to have any of her own. It is said that it became a custom in Israel for the daughters of Israel to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite for four days each year.
I can’t imagine how her father must have felt, seeing his only child live the rest of her life a spinster because of a foolish vow he had made. The vow as not even necessary. The Spirit of the Lord was with him. God would have given him the victory anyway. What should have been a celebration for father and daughter turned into a tragedy. His victory came at a great cost because of a vow he had made in order to guarantee that victory.
Be careful when you made a vow to the Lord or anyone. Consider what you are doing first. Make sure you can live with your decision. Don’t make promises that you may regret keeping.
If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth – Numbers 30:2.
Lately, *Wendy is plagued with the fear of losing her mother. Granted her mother *Marian had lived a long and happy life but Wendy was not ready to lose her. Marian was in her seventies. She celebrated her 75th birthday a couple of months ago. Wendy and her sister *Lauren had taken her out for lunch to celebrate. In the past, Marian celebrated birthdays, Christmases and every Mother’s Day at her home or at one of her daughter’s home. However, everything changed when she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. She couldn’t remain in her home after she fell. She was a widow and had been living on her own. She had to sell her home and move into a nursing home. It took time for her to adjust to living in a room and having to depend on nurses to change and bathe her and do the things she used to do for herself. It was hard to give up her independence.
She was still able to go and spend time with her children and grandchildren but lately, it was becoming increasingly difficult for her to move around without the wheelchair. She had gone from using a cane to a walker and now to a wheelchair. She had fallen several times. Once Wendy went to visit her and was horrified to see the ugly bruises on her arms. Marian fell because she tried to do things on her own when she should have called for help. The nurse would go into her room and find her on the floor. Thankfully, she hadn’t had any serious falls but Wendy worried about her. She had heard stories of elderly women breaking their hips and suffering other serious injuries from falls.
Just recently, Wendy received distressing news. Her sister Lauren informed her that their mother was not responding well because she hadn’t been given her medication that morning. The last dosage was the night before so she was supposed to get the next one around 7 in the morning but the nurse hadn’t given her. When Marian’s regular nurse found out two hours later, she decided to wait until 11 to give her her medication. Lauren was livid. She demanded to know why the nurse waited instead of giving her mother the medication right away. As Wendy listened to her sister, she felt sick in the stomach. Their mother had been without her medication for 15 hours. She was lying in her bed, with her eyes closed. She was aware that her nurse was in the room and was responsive but she couldn’t do anything except lie there. Her nurse kept checking on her to make sure she was okay. She was relieved when Marian woke up. Marian’s doctor told the nurse to try to get the medication into Marian which she kept trying to do until she succeeded. The doctor said that it could take 24 hours for Marian to recover as a result of not getting her first dosage that morning.
The Administration at the nursing home acknowledged that two gross mistakes had been made. The first nurse should have given Marian her 7:00 a.m. meds and her regular nurse should have immediately given her the meds at 9:00 when she realized that she hadn’t been given her first set of meds instead of simply waiting for the next set. The director assured Lauren that they were taking measures to make sure that this never happened again. They plan to follow up with the first nurse who neglected to give Marian her morning medication.
Wendy was thankful to God for watching over her mother who is okay. Tears came to her eyes as she imagined her mother lying there with her eyes closed, unable to do much else and how it could have been much worse…
How many other Parkinson’s patients like Marian do not receive their medication on time? According to an article written on the National Parkinson Foundation website, hospitals can be danger zones for people with Parkinson’s.
Hospitals are usually a safe haven for people with serious illnesses, but for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) going to the emergency room or being hospitalized can be a nightmare, because their condition is more likely to deteriorate due to inappropriate care and the anxiety of being in an unfamiliar environment.
Parkinson’s patients are often afraid to challenge a hospital’s medical staff, because they assume that they know what they are doing, but many may have little or no knowledge about how to care for someone with Parkinson’s, said Dr. John Morgan, assistant professor at Georgia Health Sciences University.
Three out of four people with Parkinson’s do not get their medication on time when they go to the hospital, which can cause serious complications even death, said NPF’s National Medical Director Dr. Michael Okun. Even more alarming is that research shows that the majority of hospital staff do not know which drugs are unsafe for Parkinson’s patients, and they do not understand Parkinson’s disease.
People with Parkinson’s must take their medication on time, especially those with moderate and advanced Parkinson’s who are taking frequent doses of levodopa, a common Parkinson’s medication, Dr. Morgan said. “If medication is not taken on time, they can become stiff, rigid, tremulous and unable to move and prone to falls, etc. Even one hour off of a scheduled time can make a big difference,” Dr. Morgan explained.
There is no cure for Parkinson’s, but medication helps control symptoms by increasing the levels of dopamine in the brain. Dr. Morgan emphasized that medications should be taken 30 minutes to an hour before meals or an hour or more after meals, because the protein in food can inhibit the absorption of the medication into the body. If a person eats too close to their scheduled medication time, Dr. Morgan said it is better to eat a low-protein meal rather than delay taking medication.
The article mentions that one hour off of a scheduled time can make a big difference. Wendy’s mother had been 15 hours off her scheduled time. Another article states, “Medications must be administered on time to promote consistent therapeutic blood levels and prevent disabling symptoms. A delay of even 5 minutes can cause the patient to suddenly lose the ability to move, walk, and speak.” If Wendy and Lauren wanted to, they could sue the nursing home for gross negligence and failing to administer the proper help. Marian should not have gone through what she did. She was in a facility that was supposed to take care of her. Their negligence could have cost Marian her life. For now, Wendy and Lauren are hoping that this doesn’t happen again.
Want to get involved in raising awareness for Parkinson’s? Here’s how.
*These are not their real names.
Source: http://www.parkinson.org/About-Us/Press-Room/NPF-In-The-News/2012/November/Hospitals-can-be-a-danger-zone-for-people-with-Par; http://journals.lww.com/nursing/Fulltext/2011/03000/Administering_medications_for_Parkinson_disease_on.24.aspx
Earlier this month when I was reading about African American women who made a difference so that I could feature them in the special issue of Notes to Women newsletter, one name kept popping up–Eleanor Roosevelt. I promised myself that I would do a little writeup on her. And here we are.
“Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home – so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world. Yet they are the world of the individual person; the neighborhood he lives in; the school or college he attends; the factory, farm, or office where he works. Such are the places where every man, woman, and child seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination. Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere. Without concerted citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world” (http://www.udhr.org/history/biographies/bioer.htm).
She basically believed that charity begins at home. And she reminds me of something a friend once said to me. “The difficulty in following Jesus’ command is that we often pick and choose who we decide is our neighbour. We see our neighbour as the starving, AIDS infected person in the Third World or the orphan in a war torn country, needing our love and care but often perceive the homeless in our community as undeserving of our love.”
Eleanor’s childhood was a dreadfully unhappy one. Her father was an alcoholic who was disowned by his family. Her mother, renowned for her beauty, was distant from her daughter whom she nicknamed “Granny” because she seemed to her old-fashioned. After Anna Roosevelt died of diphtheria in 1892, Eleanor, age eight, was raised by her maternal grandmother. She rarely saw her father thereafter, and he died of drink in 1894 when she was ten. These traumatic experiences affected Eleanor for life and she would harbor a constant yearning for unconditional love (http://www.lkwdpl.org/wihohio/roos-elex.htm).
Life didn’t improve much when when Eleanor married Franklin, a distant cousin and they had six children. Eleanor had to deal with her overbearing mother-in-law who apparently told her grandchildren that their mother only bore them. She tried to control Eleanor, making her daughter-in-law feel utterly dependent.
Then Eleanor found out that Franklin was having an affair with Lucy Mercer, her secretary. She offered him a divorce, but he declined for the sake of his political career and because his mother threatened to disinherit him if he did. He and Eleanor never shared a bedroom after that, but their working relationship was respectful, for the time (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/FranklinDRoosevelt).
Eleanor Roosevelt was the first First Lady to be more politically active, involving herself in causes like Civil Rights. Perhaps it was because there was lack of charity in her own home that made Eleanor want to reach out to her community. From early adulthood Eleanor Roosevelt dedicated herself to liberty, justice, and compassion for all.
Racial injustice came to her attention only after she reached the White House. By that time, she was already active in promoting other groups’ causes. Before she married Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1905, she worked with the immigrants at the Rivington Street Settlement House. During World War I she helped improve conditions for US servicemen.When Franklin fell ill, leaving him crippled, she once again found herself standing up for someone whose value to society was doubted, this time her own husband. The 1921 experience deepened her concern for society’s unaccepted. Later the same decade she began her work promoting women’s causes. Women had just gained the right to vote, and Eleanor encouraged them to make the most of that right and run for office.
After leaving the White House, Mrs. Roosevelt found herself more free than ever to promote equal rights for African Americans. During her final years she continued fighting as hard and fearlessly as ever. On at least one occassion, the Secret Service warned her not to keep a speaking engagement on civil disobedience. The Ku Klux Klan had put a price on her head and the Secret Service said they could not guarantee her safety. Undeterred, she traveled with another lady and her revolver. Such was her determination, independence, and courage right up to the year she died.
Mrs. Roosevelt was not always successful, even despairing at times of making any progress at all. And not every one of the causes she championed, such as the United Nations, turned out to be all that she hoped. But she used every ounce of her influence, charisma, and political capital for the causes in which she believed. Right or wrong, she fought zealously and courageously, and in most cases the world is a better place because of those fights. This zealous First Lady’s support moved African Americans’ cause ahead by decades
(http://www.blackhistoryreview.com/biography/ERoosevelt.php).
Eleanor Roosevelt came a long way from being an unhappy child and dependent woman to becoming a champion for women’s and civil rights. She was committed to what she believed in.
Be inspired by this remarkable woman who endured so much but in the end gave so much because she cared about the rights of others.
You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do.
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.
Remember always that you not only have the right to be an individual, you have an obligation to be one
Eleanor Roosevelt
