Inspirational Sunday

Bill Witcher will be sharing words of encouragement, inspiration and hope with you each Sunday.




Some time ago I received an inspirtional email from My Daily Insights (www.MyDailyInsights.com) that I just reread and thought was very appropriate for our computer savvy students and I would like to share a portion of that email with you. It was based on an interesting concept. What if LOVE was a software program that you could install in your Heart? What would you have to do to get this very valuable program installed? Obviously, the first thing would be to call Tech Support and ask for help.

INSTALLING LOVE

Tech Support: Hello, how may I help you?
Customer: Well, after much thought, I've decided to install LOVE. Will you guide me though the process?
Tech Support: Yes. I would love to. Are you ready to proceed?
Customer: Well, I'm not very technical, but I think I'm ready. What do I do first?
Tech Support: The first step is to open your Heart. Have you located your Heart?
Customer: Yes, but there are several other programs running now. Is it okay to install LOVE while they are running?
Tech Support: What other programs are running?
Customer: Let's see, I have Past Hurt, Low Self-Esteem, Grudge, and Resentment running right now.
Tech Support: No problem, LOVE will gradually erase Past Hurt from your current operating system. It may remain in your permanent memory but it will no longer disrupt other programs. LOVE will eventually override Low Self-Esteem with a module of its own called High Self-Esteem. However, you have to completely turn off Grudge and Resentment. Those programs prevent LOVE from being properly installed. Can you turn those off?
Customer: I don't know how to turn them off. Can you tell me how?
Tech Support: With pleasure. Go to your start menu and turn on Forgiveness. Do this as many times as necessary until Grudge and Resentment have been completely erased.
Customer: Okay, done! Wow, LOVE has started installing itself. Is that normal?
Tech Support: Yes, but remember that you have only the base program. You need to begin sharing and connecting to other Hearts in order to get the upgrades.
Customer: Got it. Hey! My heart is filling up with new files. Smile is playing on my monitor and Peace and Contentment are copying themselves all over My Heart. Thank you for all your help.

This weeks message is a simple one. Install LOVE in your heart and start sharing it with everyone you meet. Have a blessed week.

Saturday's with Dr. Roffman

Each Saturday, Joel Roffman, MD, a prominent Dallas cardiologist and author will share meaningful experiences he has had with patients who are dealing with a variety of physical and emotional issues. You will find the manner in which they deal with life’s problems to be practical, inspirational and uplifting.




A Parent’s Love

I commonly have patients in the office tell me that they have been asked to help their grown children – either by caring for their grandchildren while the parents work or, in more dire circumstances, by taking the child (and grandchildren) into their home, usually because of financial difficulties.

The attitudes of these parents and grandparents run the gamut – some are more than willing to help, while others are resentful. Certainly, such an added responsibility late in life creates a usually unexpected burden.

Last week a patient of mine told me of just such a request by her daughter. The circumstances regarding this situation are irrelevant. What struck me was the good nature this patient had – a combination of love, responsibility, charity and gratitude that she was in a position where she could help her child.

The Talmud teaches that when a parent shows love to a child, the child then allows that love to flow through them, right on to their own children, as water flows through a vessel. And when a child shows love and respect to a parent, that supply of love is replenished by the child’s own children.

There is a blessing that is told in the form of a story. A sage sees kindness shown by a child to an elderly parent. “With what shall I bless you,” says the sage. “With learning? You are already very learned. With riches? You already have sufficient wealth. So here is my blessing. May it be God’s will that your children shall be just like you.”

May the love we show our children flow through them to their own children, and in turn, may their own children replenish the love our children show us.

If you have a comment or question about this blog entry, email Dr. Roffman at drroffman@cs4seniors.com.

Dr. Joel Roffman has spoken to many church, synagogue and support groups. His book, Coping with Adversity: Judaism’s response to illness and other life struggles is enjoyable, uplifting and informative. It is meant for people of all faiths and can be viewed at http://www.copingwithadversity.com/. It is available at Barnes and Noble, Borders, and Amazon.com.