Down By the Riverside
Hello Readers,
In this week's service, The Gathering is with my Dad. As I listened, this one in particular brought back many feelings and memories. As Dad explains the opening hymn, the tone in his voice and his word choices are distinctive.
For example:
"Excuse me" --"give me a moment to get my bearings." [As I listened, I was brought to my childhood home, where often I would walk down the hall one way while dad was going the other and he would say something like "excuse me" in a teasing way like he was upset, when he was not at all -- I would laugh so hard, that was my role, laughing. I kept laughing and he kept teasing, I loved it, I loved the attention. Dad was all about interactions, I miss those with him so much it hurts.]
Once the song begins, I am filled with pride for my father who, once he retired from teaching, picked up guitar and led this congregation and our family in song for many years. The song also includes what I believe is my brother-in-law on violin. My dad adds his bass lead-ins, (if you know, you know) along with some great strumming, what a joyful way to start the service.
Throughout - niece on piano?
38'32" -- Mom reads Matthew 3:13-17 'The Baptism of Jesus' [How lucky am I to have been raised by someone who could read with such expression. I think mom thought we were being sarcastic (her love language, lol) when my sisters and I bragged to her about this trait. When I was young, the adult choir sang a cantata and mom's speaking part included: "The Inns were filled to capacity!" -- just the fact that I remember that line is a testimony to this underrated trait. Mom is quietly in the mix of the service, a less obvious place - so fitting.]
This is the first service from 2008 to be posted. Many of us make resolutions around the first of the year. For me that often means focusing on an area of health. Recently, I came across the following video:
Sheila Jane Wellness (Mistakes that slowed my weightloss) -- I was impressed with the term food skills. Sheila Jane stresses that she had to learn these and to not rely on exercise to make-up for a lack of food skills. I recently have been learning about food noise and how it is often louder when I am emotional or haven't been getting enough rest. A lack of protein may also contribute to food noise. Sheila Jane also points out the possibility of overeating 'healthy' foods. Logging my food is helpful with this and yet I am trying to keep this in balance. I tend to get too obsessive about food as I near my goal, which leads me to what impressed me most about Sheila Jane's post.
Sheila Jane advises not to chase the goal weight too hard. As you near the goal, getting on the scale can cause fear, like taking a test after much preparation. Her words resonate with me. I sometimes have a fear of messing up. I fear that each fluctuation is a failure. I'm trying to not let the goal weight become this loud voice that keeps me from enjoying the progress I've made. In the past, this loud voice has often led me to be stressed, a step towards food noise. Instead, Sheila Jane advises, chase overall well-being (along with regular scale updates). Well-being may be different for each person. I like to notice how my clothes are fitting, I check in with my nerves, if I'm nervous in my stomach, I need to consider it might mean that my mental health is off. Sheila Jane suggested monitoring one's digestion, this includes noticing what types of foods I am eating and craving.
I wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving, a time of eating! Let's celebrate our gratitude for the harvest and bounty that have been provided. May we all find a healthy balance as we plan for next year's possible resolutions.
Thanks for reading.
Stay well,
Amy BH
[Note: I will not be posting next week as I enjoy time with my family.]
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