Robin Gilbert Luftig's Blog, page 44

Depression and the Holidays

 

[image error]Holidays. They’re supposed to be a time of celebration and gaiety. But if you’re in the clutches of depression, the Christmas season can seem like a platter of darkness served to you instead of turkey or ham.

If your life has been touched by the ramifications of a medical trial, depression can be magnified. I struggled with all that surrounds healing from a brain tumor. Maybe someone you love had a stroke and is learning to walk again. Or maybe you’ve lost someone–a spouse, friend or even child–to a medical issue. How can you celebrate when all you feel is anger, resentment or even worse–that void? You come across well-wishers with their cast-off platitudes:

“God won’t give you anything you can’t handle.”

“That which doesn’t kill us will make us stronger.”

“You’re better off than you think.”

Really? Give me a break!

These next few days may be strewn with land mines of depression. Walk through this season cautiously. With the proper planning and a support team around you, you can make it through.

Tell your closest friends you need their strength to get through the next few days. Have them check on you a bit more than usual.

Write words that have power on note cards and put the cards in your pocket. When you find yourself slipping into a funk, pull out the card and give yourself a lifeline.

Holidays come, but they also go. Healing will continue. Pain will lessen. Live in the moment as much as you can, because really … that’s all we ever have.

The Very Best Bible Reading Plan You’ll Find This Year

[image error]If you’ve followed me for any time at all, you’ve read posts I’ve offered from author (and good friend) Lori Roeleveld. In her latest blog, she challenges the reader to look around them and see all the opportunities they have to excel at being the best Christian they can be. All this, as done in true Roeleveld style, without piling on shame. This post will bless you as well as move your heart.

Take a moment from your list-making and rushing around to read her article, The Very Best Bible Reading Plan You’ll Find This Year.  And treat yourself and follow her blog. Each post seems to be on the mark for what people are dealing with at that moment in time.

Jesus and the Beanstalk – A Lesson in Life

Lori Roeleveld has done it again with her book, Jesus and the Beanstalk: Overcoming Giants and Living a Fruitful Life. Once again she’s tapped into my person—my being—and wrote thoughts I only dared acknowledge to myself. Reading this book, it’s as if she’s given a voice to my fears and challenges, and allowed them to the surface where I can see them for what they are. Time after time I’d cover a portion of her book, only to stop reading and ponder not only her words but marvel how God has used this person to tap into different areas of my life and address them scripturally.

I particularly liked the section, The Christian You Don’t Know. Affirming and challenging at the same time, only in the way that Roeveleld can do. And her ability to wrap a point in humor is uncanny. Thou Shalt Pray Like Sheldon Cooper is just one example of many of how she offers wisdom with humor.

I can’t wait to read this book again.

Don’t be afraid to start Jesus and the Beanstalk with an open mind. You will not be disappointed.

Start a New Christmas Tradition with Red Pen Redemption by Lori Roeleveld

Looking to start a new tradition? Here’s my review for Lori Roeleveld’s book, Red Pen Redemption. See what you think. Consider adding this to your December experiences.

Would you be bold enough to challenge God with your life? Helen Bancroft did in Lori Roeleveld’s, Red Pen Redemption.

It’s a story of Helen’s self-justification and self-indulgence. She is both hero and villain. I loved her and hated her. I wanted to reach through the pages and shake her by her shoulders, then I wanted to hug her close to protect her. Ironically, it wasn’t until I was closing into the end of the story that I realized I had seen myself—my own life—reflected in parts of this story.

Roeleveld’s use of scripture soothed, guided, and enticed me as a reader. She also expertly offered example after example how Helen tried to look God in the proverbial face, only to blink and turn away. Just as I had tried in the past, and if you dare to read this, you may see yourself, too.

I rarely give five stars ratings. I think five-stars are reserved for mothers to give their children. But this book has what it takes to change lives. A tall order for a piece of fiction. Lori Roeleveld’s, Red Pen Redemption is slated to be a beloved Christmas Season staple for years to come.

How About a Mulligan?

Playing golf or darts is a great past time. There’s a rule called a Mulligan, or a do-over after the first attempt was blundered. That’s what happened long ago.

Eight hundred years earlier, Isaiah prophesied that Jesus would come. Isaiah didn’t use the names of Mary, Joseph, or Jesus. He used the names of Wonderful Counselor. Mighty God. Everlasting Father. Prince of Peace.

The people of Isaiah’s time knew in their heads the Messiah was coming, but their hearts were elsewhere.

Sound familiar?

Maybe it’s a bit like us. Christmas is a celebration of the birth of the Savior of all humanity, but we may spend more time wondering what size sweater to buy for our least favorite uncle (will he want an X or XL?).

It’s all about a Mulligan–a do-over. Let’s start over, right now. We have the luxury of looking back over time. Let’s not let that go to waste. We’ve heard the story about how Jesus came to save us all. We carry that knowledge in our heads.

Before it’s too late, let’s move it into our hearts. Let’s put action to our knowledge. Let’s share the Good News—a King has come to set us free!

Let’s use a Mulligan when it comes to celebrating Christmas and our Savior’s birth.

The Gift of Time

Lew & Robin, 1 year post Robin’s brain surgery

Yesterday is but today’s memory, tomorrow is today’s dream.  Kahlil Gibran

Thanksgiving and Christmas … two holidays wrapped up in gratitude and appreciation. But how do you celebrate these two holidays when you’re hurting, scared or dealing with limitations?

You celebrate the gift of time.

Tha-thump.

If your head hurts, thank God for the sense of feeling.

If you’ve lost your ability to walk, be thankful for all the years you ran.

Tha-thump.

If you suffer from confusion, know the pillow you lay your head on will hold you safe until you awaken.

If your balance is gone, appreciate the days you had when you didn’t wobble.

Tha-thump.

Hear the tha-thump? That’s your greatest gift–your heartbeat. You have no control over it. Life is a gift from God every time your heart beats. So why worry about what tomorrow has in store for you? It isn’t here yet! Why fret over what use to be. It’s over! If you can’t enjoy what you remember, leave it behind.

Life was ripe for me April 11, 2011. I had a tumor on my brain that had been there for 10-12 years. I had more strikes against staying alive than dying. But I am grateful it wasn’t my time to pass.

Tha-thump.

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1) We don’t determine when we die, but we can use our time left wisely. Don’t waste what you have today on what was or what could be. Embrace now. That’s all there really is.

The Gift of Time

Lew & Robin, 1 year post Robin’s brain surgery

Yesterday is but today’s memory, tomorrow is today’s dream.  Kahlil Gibran

Thanksgiving and Christmas … two holidays wrapped up in gratitude and appreciation. But how do you celebrate these two holidays when you’re hurting, scared or dealing with limitations?

You celebrate the gift of time.

Tha-thump.

If your head hurts, thank God for the sense of feeling.

If you’ve lost your ability to walk, be thankful for all the years you ran.

Tha-thump.

If you suffer from confusion, know the pillow you lay your head on will hold you safe until you awaken.

If your balance is gone, appreciate the days you had when you didn’t wobble.

Tha-thump.

Hear the tha-thump? That’s your greatest gift–your heart beat. You have no control over it. Life is a gift from God every time your heart beats. So why worry about what tomorrow has in store for you? It isn’t here yet! Why fret over what use to be. It’s over! If you can’t enjoy what you remember, leave it behind.

Life was ripe for me April 11, 2011. I had a tumor on my brain that had been there between 10-12 years. I had more strikes against staying alive than dying. But I am grateful it wasn’t my time to pass.

Tha-thump.

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1) We don’t determine when we die, but we can use our time left wisely. Don’t waste what you have today on what was or what could be. Embrace now. That’s all there really is.

What’s Your Yardstick?

How do you measure success? As an author, do you measure it by the number of your published books? Do you measure it by the size if your Social Media platform?

I am a writer/divorce/brain tumor survivor/child of God. God has blessed me with experiencing many avenues of pain. I pull from these experiences every time I speak to others about the mercy and grace of my Heavenly Father. I understand many of these people. I’ve experienced lots of their types of pain. I know these feelings–as well as the comfort and healing power of God–are real.

But I can’t reach everyone, nor was I meant to. Just as the body has hands and feet (check out 1 Corinthians 12:12-31), so does the body of Christ. And each part of this body has its own objective.

God has instructed us all to love one another, so that’s something we all can aspire to do. But don’t try to do everything. Only put your energy into doing what God has designed you to do.

This time of year, we all have standards we want to exceed. In the midst of all the celebration and hoopla, be kind to yourself. Love those around you. Offer what you can, and be good with that. Your success is following God’s plan. Measure your success by His standards.

Set time aside to focus on that. You’ll be happy you did.

Caution: Bad Temper Ahead

Brain injuries and bad tempers seem to go together. After my brain surgery, I had little tolerance for others if their opinions or actions differed from what I thought was appropriate. I thank God for the grace others offered me. They assured me that they knew how I had acted before the doctors found my brain tumor. They trusted the sweet Robin would eventually return.

I saw James 3:17-18 in action around me. This is how The Message reads:

Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.



Friends and family offered me God’s grace when I was acting like a powder keg, ready to explode. I thought I was all alone in this.

Here’s a post from Michelle Munt, another brain injury survivor, and her experience dealing with emotions shortly after her accident.

Have you had an experience when you thought your emotions were going to get the better of you?

We Are All Responsible

The election happened. It’s over.

Some people are happy with the outcome, Many, however, are fearful of America’s future; even demonstrating in the streets. Some colleges have gone so far as to cancel classes, hand out soothing hot chocolate and even assign comfort dogs to students.

No matter what side of the discussion you’re on, we are all responsible from here on. We need to be responsible to not spew rhetoric but to listen to and speak Truth.

That means you, too, CNN, ABC, NBC, FOX, MSNBC. I watched the evening news last night and saw well wishes offered to Mr. Trump from dictators from around the world, but they were silent when it came to the kind and welcoming words from the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu. It was like you, Mr. News Anchor, wanted me to agree with your position of “I told you so, America. The entire world sees our leader as a dictator and will hate us now.”

I have turned to several sources of information because I’ve stopped trusting the media. For me, they’ve lost all credibility.

News stations, you can fix this! Don’t give us editorialized truth. We can handle the real stuff. And we can accept what you have to say if we know you trust us to make our own decisions. We want to trust you, but you have to give us something to work with.

And my fellow neighbors, remember the children are watching us. They are learning how to maneuver Life by our examples. Let’s listen as much as we speak. Offer kindness instead of hostility. See one another as a brother or sister, not an adversary.

We are all responsible from here as to how we plan on getting through this time in our country’s history. Let’s do it with style–with class. Let’s show the world that this is still the best country around.

What do you say?