Parish Nursing Ministry

to accompany and give back hope

Parish Nursing Health Tips

	Your Parish Nursing Health Tips are prepared by Margaret Black, RN EdD, PN
	_______________________________________ Parish Nursing Health Tip posted for the week of March 26, 2023 Courtesy of Rita Hiorth About Honey Did you know that one of the first coins in the world had a bee symbol on them? Did you know that there are live enzymes in honey? Did you know that in contact with metal spoon these enzymes die? The best way to eat honey is with wooden spoon, if you can't find one, use plastic. Did you know that honey contains a substance that helps your brain work better? Did you know that honey is one of the rare foods on earth that alone can sustain human life? Did you know that bees saved people in Africa from starvation? One spoon of honey is enough to sustain human life for 24 hours? Did you know that propolis that bees produce is one of the most powerful natural ANTIBIOTICS? Did you know that honey has no expiration date?Did you know that the bodies of the great emperors of the world were buried in golden coffins and then covered with honey to prevent putrefaction? Did you know that the term "HONEY MOON" comes from the fact that newlyweds consumed honey for fertility after the wedding? Did you know that a bee lives less than 40 days, visits at least 1000 flowers and produces less than a teaspoon of honey, but for her it is a lifetime. Thank you, BEES! Make sure to share this post. I am sure many people will love to know this information. SAVE HONEY BEES. I have not verified this information but found it very interesting. I hope you do too. Margaret Black Parish Nurse _______________________________________ Parish Nursing Health Tip posted for the week of January 29, 2023 Abandoned by God? NEVER When I saw Rev. Paul’s email this morning stating that he and his family have COVID, this question struck me. Two churches with no minister! A different situation but it helped me to empathize more with St. Cyprian’s people. Also for Iona folks this particular situation brings terrible memories. We have already lost one beloved minister to COVID. Please, Lord, don’t let it happen again. On this point I am sure it won’t. Rev. Robert Reid had no vaccinations, as well as other health conditions which made him vulnerable. Rev. Paul is younger, healthier, and completely vaccinated, so I have no doubt he will be back with us soon. In the meantime we will be blessed to have Antonio Siracusa, a former nurse now a minister and hospital chaplain, preaching for us this weekend. We have had him once before and appreciated his message. All that being considered, might there be a message from God for us in this situation? I think so. Stretched by God - YES Why, Lord, do we need ongoing struggles and changes in our lives and situations both as individuals and as Your people? My “to do” list is already too long. It feels like I will never get to the end of it. I’m surely not the only one who feels this way. Many of us are older and in relatively comfortable routines. Why do we need to be “stretched”? Because we live in a time of unprecedented unrest, violence, social upheaval. Children are killing people they don’t even know. Thousands of homeless people wander the streets of Toronto seeking shelter, food, help with their lives. Many people struggle with mental health problems, feel ostracized and unable to cope. In short we are living in a world which no longer knows You. As Your disciples, Jesus’ hands and feet in the world, we need to do our best to help others come to know and worship You as we do - our loving heavenly Father who gives us rules to live by but always loves and forgives us no matter how we go astray. Just reading this list is enough to make me feel discouraged. Lord, there is NO way we can make all the changes that need to be made in our society. Of course not, and that is not what You expect of us. What we can do is reach out to the people in our neighborhood and help them learn that there is a loving community at Tri-Church which will welcome them and be here to support them in any ways that we can. And we can only do this with Your help, not on our own. The important thing now is to accept Your need for us in our situation and do whatever we can with Your help and guidance. Thank you, Lord, for seeing that we still have potential to serve You and others in important ways, thus giving meaning and purpose to our lives. All praise to You forever! Margaret Black Parish Nurse _______________________________________ Parish Nursing Health Tip posted for the week of December 11, 2022 What Do We See With? This woman says she is a nurse and she doesn’t know that we see with our eyes??? I can hear you thinking that and yes we see with our eyes but that’s not all. Our eyes receive the signals from whatever we are looking at but then these impulses are transmitted to the back of our brains (Occipital lobe) where the brain interprets them and presents us with the picture we see. Why do we need to know this? Because the interpretation may not be an exact replica of what the eyes are looking at. If we already have an idea of what we are looking at, our brains can leave out things that don’t fit with our preconceived notions. Last night I was at a long, tiring music rehearsal. Most of the time I was standing up.. When we were dismissed we had to leave quickly, so gathered our things as fast as we could. My coat and bag were in different places and my music folder was in my hand. I quickly picked up things and got home at 10 pm after 3 !/4 hours. As I entered the house, I was distracted by my young dog-walking friend who was currently watching the Raptors game. I quickly dumped my bag and purse in an unusual place. After taking him home, I got my music folder out but left the other things. Later I panicked, thinking I had left my purse and water bottle at the church where we were rehearsing. I found the purse but couldn’t find the water bottle anywhere. Finally I was so exhausted that I decided just to buy a new bottle. This morning, to my complete surprise the missing water bottle was on a small desk in my front hall where I had left it last night when searching for the other items. How could I have been so blind? My overtaxed brain ignored it when interpreting the information from my eyes. This led me to a different, much more important question: Where do we see Jesus? Although we may not see Him now, we know that He is always with us. Where would we have found him 2000 years ago when He walked the earth? With the homeless, the poor, the grieving, the sick, the troubled. While our eyes can’t see Him now, I believe He still walks with us and cares about all of us, especially the needy. So, when we see people needing help, guidance, prayer and encouragement we should remember that we are now Jesus’ body on earth. Our minds can easily make us blind to the needs of those around us, especially those who are different from us. Lord, please open our eyes, minds and hearts that we might see You and do whatever You would do. A friendly phone call to a lonely person, a loaf of bread for someone with no food, a prayer for each person we see, can make a big difference for people who are hurting in so many ways. Help us to walk with Jesus and do as He would have us do. Margaret Black Parish Nurse __________________________________________ Parish Nursing Health Tip posted for the week of October 2, 2022 This morning I woke up feeling wonderful, having had the best sleep in several nights. On my morning walk I was thanking God for all the amazing blessings in my life - good health, wonderful family, my wonderful church family, plus all the things I need (shelter, food, etc.) that I take so much for granted. I was enjoying the fresh autumn air and sunshine and the beautiful trees just starting to turn colour. An hour later I was screaming at my dog for a few misdemeanours. Where did that come from? My Dark Side had suddenly appeared and I was appalled. I tend to think of myself as a sunny person, usually seeing the best in my life and trying to show God’s love to the world around me so this was a big surprise. But we all have a Dark Side. It took some time for me to really understand what had triggered it. In this case, a challenge with technology. I had scanned the area on the municipal election voting card to learn more about the candidates running in my riding for various positions. It got complicated and very frustrating, especially as Queen was nudging me, wanting breakfast and play time. They didn’t go well together and suddenly I was overtaken by my Dark Side and Queen bore the brunt. True, she’s a dog but she is also a sentient being with feelings like mine and I reacted very inappropriately. I try to use every negative experience as a learning opportunity. This one gave me a lot to reflect on and I learned a lot about myself in the process. I am goal-driven, setting goals for myself every day and rewarding myself for those I accomplish while criticizing myself for those left undone. This can be a useful trait but only if the goals are realistic and manageable in the time period available. August and September have been hectic for me, wonderful in some ways, challenging in others including a one month visit from my daughter who lives in Alberta, and a bathroom renovation during the time she was home. Toss in there my church responsibilities and it is apparent that I had allowed myself to become quite stressed. Although I recognized that, I didn’t allow myself time to relax, continuing to expect all the usual things from myself which led to a predictable explosion. When things go wrong I need to deal with them, but appropriately, not just as a vent for stored up stress. From now on I will work on being more realistic in my goals and schedules and take time to relax when I start to feel pressured. God has given us a wonderful place to live and wonderful people to share our lives with. I need to make the most of each day and forgive myself for unfinished business. We all need time to relax and enjoy ourselves and to thank God daily for all His gifts. Wishing you the very best as we move into the future together. Blessings ... Margaret Black Parish Nurse ________________________________________________ Parish Nursing Health Tip posted for the week of July 24, 2022 Where Is Our Focus? The events of the past week are now coming together for me and suggesting another health tip. As some of you may know, Melissa Reid is currently in Scotland, visiting Robert’s remaining relatives and scattering some of his ashes in his homeland. This reminded me of a similar trip I made many years ago where I picked up this cute souvenir in the gift shop at Inverness. It shows a small Scotsman in a little boat taking a picture of a small bird on what he assumes is a rock, and totally missing the fact that it is on the tail of the Loch Ness Monster, which is eyeing him as an appetizer. I used to use this to show my nursing students the importance of seeing things in context, a lesson that I also need to keep in mind as I have a tendency to focus on details and miss what is really important. This week we learned of the terrible loss at Iona of Rena Mowbray. She had been with us for many years and we had many good times together years ago, such as when she and some others would come to our house to celebrate Hogmanay (Scottish New Year’s Eve). Also, I was her elder and parish nurse and on Tuesday mornings, when she was unable to attend church, I would deliver a printed copy of the sermon to keep her in touch with us. Mostly I just stuck the copy in her mailbox, telling myself I would visit her another time when I wasn’t so busy. Little did I know that time would never come. Now I live with guilt and sorrow for not ensuring regular visits. Rena, we miss you but are grateful you are now past the pain and loneliness, as you rest in God’s loving care. Yesterday I had a phone call from Rita Hiorth, now living in Collingwood. She said she would be in Toronto today for an appointment and we arranged for her to visit me this afternoon but I woke up worried about details: should I set up inside or on the deck; how much cleaning up do I need to do, etc. Still focused on the wrong things, I need to focus on the joy of seeing her, not knowing how many other opportunities we will have to be together. A recent sermon by Emily Bisset pointed out that our focus as Christians should be on showing God’s love through our actions, not just having good intentions. We are Christ’s body here on earth and He depends on us to show His love to others through what we do. Our actions could include visits, phone calls, prayers, perhaps a card to let someone know we are thinking of them, whatever else occurs to you. The important thing is to connect with those who need us and help them know someone cares. From now on, when I am tempted to put things off because I am “too busy”, I will look at my Loch Ness souvenir and ask myself what is REALLY important on that day. I hope and pray that this tip may help those who read it remember to focus on the important things, not just the details. Blessings, Margaret Black Parish Nurse ________________________________________________ Parish Nursing Health Tip posted for the week of June 12, 2022 “You Do Not Walk Alone” Where is God walking with you right now? We all feel like we are “walking alone” sometimes and it can be frightening, depressing, and lonely. What I have learned is that when I pray for God to open my eyes to His Presence in my life suddenly I see things I have totally missed or taken for granted before. Pentecost Sunday was a perfect example. As you probably already know, I have a wonderful dog, Queen, whom I love dearly but she does present some problems on her daily walks. If she sees a dog that doesn’t belong to “her pack”, she can become aggressive in defending “her territory”. At 110 lbs she is a force to be reckoned with and I am no longer comfortable trying to do this on my own. During the week I have great professional dog walkers and on weekends I usually have a teenage male friend who helps me walk her but occasionally he has other plans. Then I resort to a list of other friends to see who can cover for him. Yesterday he went to Wonderland and we hope he enjoyed it. I called all my usual group of young friends who act as back-up walkers when needed, but no one was available. We walked in the morning with a near neighbour and his dog but he was busy later. I was really afraid that I was going to have to walk Queen by myself in the evening and it haunted me for a good part of the day. While I was doing other things, a song from our recent Village Voices concert, called “You Do Not Walk Alone”, kept running through my mind. Clearly a message from God which included encouraging me to look for other possibilities I hadn’t thought of. And it happened! I spoke to a long-time dog-walking friend in the neighbourhood to ask whether his teenage son might be available to help out. His son was not, but he came himself and brought his beautiful preteen daughter who used to play with my grandson several years ago and who loves Queen. We had the most wonderful walk together that I have experienced in years! We remembered mutual friends and neighbours and our good times with them. We joked and laughed, just enjoyed being together, and his daughter had a great time patting and playing with Queen. I realized that this was a gift from God that would not have happened if no serious problem had arisen. So when you feel that you are struggling alone with problems you can’t solve, ask God to open your eyes so you can see where He is walking with you. We are all God’s children and He loves us far beyond our human capacity to comprehend. And once you start to see God’s Presence in your life more clearly, you can help others to see it in their lives too and reap the joy of helping them. Always remember YOU DO NOT WALK ALONE! Marg Black Parish Nurse ________________________________________ Parish Nursing Health Tip posted for the week of May 22, 2022 Even Rose Gardens Have Serpents! God did give us a garden filled with all the flowers we could ever want but it came with a qualification. We were supposed to tend the garden and walk with God. Eve fell prey to the Serpent and ate the forbidden apple, giving it also to Adam. As a result we were all exiled from Eden to live in the world of struggle, pain, fear. loss, etc. that humankind has lived in since the beginning. What has all this to do with us and the world we live in today? For one thing, life has always had its struggles. As children we had to go to school, work hard to pass our exams, then graduate and go to work to earn a living. But these things came with many blessings which we might not have recognized at the time. We made many wonderful friends and learned much more than just what was in the curriculum. We dreaded mistakes and failures but they gave us learning opportunities. If you never meet anything that challenges you, you don’t grow. God has given each of us unique gifts that we are intended to grow into and use to serve Him and the people who need us. As the world so desperately needs God’s message of love, forgiveness, kindness, and helpfulness, this is a good time to ask ourselves how we can help. For many of us, as we grow older, we start to think, “I’ve done my bit. It’s my time to rest, relax, let others worry about these things.” Or maybe even, “I’m too old, tired, sick. I have nothing left to give.” That’s the Serpent in our garden. We need to be careful not to fall prey to this temptation. I’m not suggesting that we haven’t earned the right to rest and relax. That’s important. What I am focused on is, “I have nothing left to give.” That leads us to feel like we don’t matter any more, that we have no purpose. Life without purpose is not life, it is mere existence. We all have something to offer. Experience and wisdom! Recently I found a birthday card that I loved. It said, “Don’t think of yourself as 50. Think of yourself as 21 with 29 years worth of experience.” Not only was it funny, it was also a good reminder of what we acquire as we continue our journey through life. Look around your neighborhood and see lonely, frightened, lost people that you can reach out to and befriend. Learn about their problems and see if some of your life experience can be helpful. Pick up your phone and call friends that you haven’t seen for some time. Find out what’s going on in their lives and give them your support. Smile and say hello to those that you pass on the street. That makes the world a friendlier place. Not only do these small things help others, they give us purpose, meaning, and joy. And above all, you can always PRAY for others. That’s our part in tending God’s garden. Margaret Black Parish Nurse ________________________________________ Parish Nursing Health Tip posted for the week of April 10, 2022 Coincidences or Gifts? Yesterday I was taking my late morning walk past the house of a beloved friend from church, an older woman who lives alone. I usually just wave at the house and pray for her as I go by but this day there were two cars parked in her driveway. I was concerned that she might be ill and that family members had come to help her so I stopped to check. As I was ringing her doorbell, Rev. Paul, our wonderful Interim Minister, also arrived at the door much to my surprise. The surprise was even greater when the doorway was suddenly filled with three other friends from the church that I had not seen in person for 2 years! Coincidence? I don’t think so. This was clearly a gift from God which expanded into an impromptu party as we were both invited in for a visit and glass of wine. Hugs all around. Lots of laughter and chatter as we caught up with each other’s lives and experiences over the last 2 years. One member of the group mentioned that COVID had actually brought some good things into her life as well as grief and pain from losses she had suffered. The good things were related to the use of technology to keep in touch and socialize with family members spread across the country in different time zones. Playing amazing computer games in the middle of the night with family in different time zones and locations. How joyful it has been to actually see them while talking with them, as it is with seeing other church members during our hybrid worship services. It was valuable to be reminded that even in the midst of very difficult times, there are always some good things to be grateful for. Most especially the love of family & friends. Rev. Paul and I were encouraged to join them for lunch. I knew there would be an abundance of excellent food but unfortunately I was unable to stay. As I left the house to continue my walk, I could feel the presence of God so strongly with me. Normally I spend my walking time praying for a long list of people and situations who need help but this can become depleting. On this occasion I just opened myself to God’s presence, obvious in the natural world around me on this spring day, birds singing, trees starting to show tiny buds, etc. It was so calming and beautiful to just BE with God instead of filling each moment with words or thoughts. The whole experience was definitely a GIFT, not a coincidence. How many times do we miss the gifts we are given because we are focused on too many other things? May you enjoy whatever gifts you receive each day. Margaret Black Parish Nurse _________________________________ Parish Nursing Health Tip posted for the week of February 13, 2022 God's Way: From Hatred and Devastation Comes New Life & Giving Over 80 years ago, in Greece, sixty thousand Jews lived peacefully in Thessaloniki. It was a valued and vibrant community. Most of these Jews worked in the port; so much so that the port of Thessaloniki was even closed on Saturday, Shabbat. Great emeritus rabbis also lived and studied there. Everyone rubbed shoulders and appreciated one another. But on 2 September 1939, on the eve of the outbreak of World War II, it is on this great community that the Nazi terror will eventually descend. On 6 April 1941, Hitler invaded Greece in order to secure its southern front before launching the famous Operation Barbarossa and its great offensive against Russia. Of the 60,000 Jews in Thessaloniki, around 50,000 will be exterminated at the Birkenau concentration camp, in record time! The massacre of the Jews of Greece was brief but intense. Very few will have the chance to make it. But among the survivors there was a family known as Bourla. After the war, in 1961, a son was born into this miraculous family from the camps. His parents called him Israel–Abraham. He grew up and studied veterinary medicine in Greece. A brilliant student, Abraham will get his doctorate in reproductive biotechnology at the veterinary school of Aristotle University in Salonika. At the age of 34, he decided to move to the United States. He changes his first name Abraham, to Albert. Albert was integrated into the medical industry. He progressed quickly and joined a pharmaceutical company where he became Head Manager. Abraham (Albert) rose through the ranks and got his appointment as CEO of this company in 2019. Throughout the year Albert decides to direct the efforts of the company to try to find a vaccine against a new virus (Covid) which has just struck the world. He expends great financial and technological efforts to achieve his goal. A year later the WHO (World Health Organization) validates his company to produce the long-awaited vaccine. His vaccine will be distributed in several countries including Germany, which counts thousands of dead from the pandemic. Ironically, this vaccine which will save the lives of millions of people around the world including many Germans, was led and pushed by a little Jew from Thessaloniki, son of Holocaust survivors from whom most of his people were exterminated by Nazi Germany. And that is why Israel became the first country to receive the vaccine - in memory of his grandparents and his parents, who gave birth to Israel-Abraham Bourla, known today as Albert Bourla: CEO of Pfizer. Once again, I am indebted to an internet article by a man called Clive. Thank you Clive for giving us this information. Margaret Black Parish Nurse ____________________________________________ Parish Nursing Health Tip posted for the week of January 30, 2022 I received the following via email from a family member and it fit so well with Rev. Paul Kang’s sermon on Sunday, January 23, 2022 about living our faith that I decided to share this with all of you. Great Reminder from Elizabeth Gilbert “Some years ago, I was stuck on a crosstown bus in New York City during rush hour. Traffic was barely moving. The bus was filled with cold, tired people who were deeply irritated with one another, with the world itself. Two men barked at each other about a shove that might or might not have been intentional. A pregnant woman got on, and nobody offered her a seat. Rage was in the air; no mercy would be found here. But as the bus approached Seventh Avenue, the driver got on the intercom. "Folks," he said, "I know you have had a rough day and you are frustrated. I can’t do anything about the weather or traffic, but here is what I can do. As each one of you gets off the bus, I will reach out my hand to you. As you walk by, drop your troubles into the palm of my hand, okay? Don’t take your problems home to your families tonight, just leave them with me. My route goes right by the Hudson River, and when I drive by there later, I will open the window and throw your troubles in the water." It was as if a spell had lifted. Everyone burst out laughing. Faces gleamed with surprised delight. People who had been pretending for the past hour not to notice each other’s existence were suddenly grinning at each other like, is this guy serious? Oh, he was serious. At the next stop, just as promised, the driver reached out his hand, palm up, and waited. One by one, all the exiting commuters placed their hand just above his and mimed the gesture of dropping something into his palm. Some people laughed as they did this, some teared up but everyone did it. The driver repeated the same lovely ritual at the next stop, too. And the next. All the way to the river. We live in a hard world, my friends. Sometimes it is extra difficult to be a human being. Sometimes you have a bad day. Sometimes you have a bad day that lasts for several years. You struggle and fail. You lose jobs, money, friends, faith, and love. You witness horrible events unfolding in the news, and you become fearful and withdrawn. There are times when everything seems cloaked in darkness. You long for the light but don’t know where to find it. But what if you are the light? What if you are the very agent of illumination that a dark situation begs for? That’s what this bus driver taught me, that anyone can be the light, at any moment. This guy wasn’t some big power player. He wasn’t a spiritual leader. He wasn’t some media-savvy influencer. He was a bus driver, one of society’s most invisible workers. But he possessed real power, and he used it beautifully for our benefit. When life feels especially grim, or when I feel particularly powerless in the face of the world’s troubles, I think of this man and ask myself, What can I do, right now, to be the light? Of course, I can’t personally end all wars, or solve global warming, or transform vexing people into entirely different creatures. I definitely can’t control traffic. But I do have some influence on everyone I brush up against, even if we never speak or learn each other’s name. "No matter who you are, or where you are, or how mundane or tough your situation may seem, I believe you can illuminate your world. In fact, I believe this is the only way the world will ever be illuminated, one bright act of grace at a time, all the way to the river.” Many thanks to Elizabeth Gilbert, whomever and wherever she is, for this inspiring story. Margaret Black Parish Nurse ____________________________________________ Parish Nursing Health Tip posted for the week of January 16, 2022 “I am SAD” Several years ago a nursing student walked into my office, sat down, and said “I am SAD”. I waited a moment for her to explain, but then realized she was referring to a condition that affects many of us in the northern hemisphere at this time of year - Seasonal Affective Disorder. It is caused primarily by the decreased amount of light (shorter and often cloudy days, longer dark nights). After the joy of Christmas, this can be a difficult season. Compounded by the cold weather and especially the COVID restrictions and uncertainty right now, I expect many of us are experiencing this to some degree now. The good news is that there are things you can do to make it better. First, take Vitamin D, 25-50 micrograms daily. This is the “sunshine vitamin” that our bodies are craving in this time of limited light and no skin exposure when we are outside. It also helps our body to absorb Calcium, important for bone strength. Vitamin D deficiency can lead to mood changes, bone loss, muscle cramps, back and joint pain. Foods high in Vitamin D include salmon, herring, cod, canned tuna, egg yolks, mushrooms, and some fortified foods (e.g. milk, orange juice, cereal & oatmeal). Other things include starting a gratitude journal. Write one thing each day that you are grateful for. There is so much we take for granted in our lives (warm, comfortable houses; clean, drinkable water at the touch of a tap; fridges and cupboards full of food; phones and computers to keep us in touch with friends; TV programs when we’re bored, etc.) that so many people; in our city and the world do not have. I even remember a child who was asked to list the wonders of the world and she said: “I can see, hear, taste, smell, and feel when I touch something”. Then review the journal when you are feeling down. Look at some of the photographs around your home that remind you of happy days and wonderful people you love in your life. Think about one special experience you have had recently. Yesterday I was invited to visit very special friends that I don’t see often. I was treated like royalty, except for the family dog who was sure I was up to no good and didn’t want to let me in. After we got acquainted, he sat on my knee and didn’t want to let me leave. Their beautiful 13-month-old son kept us all entertained, as he played with his toys and told me what sounds all the farm animals in his book make (moo, oink, baa, neigh, etc.). That visit will give me good memories to last a lifetime. And finally, think about someone you know who might be lonely and feeling down, and call them. God, our greatest blessing, is always with us. Remember and rejoice! You are never alone and you are always loved. Margaret Black Parish Nurse ____________________________________________ Parish Nursing Health Tip posted for the week of December 25, 2021 Christmas - The Season of Gift-Giving The question on everybody’s mind right now is “What shall I give …for Christmas this year? Choosing Christmas gifts can be very stressful at any time but especially in the midst of the pandemic. I think that is because we envision gifts as things (toys, clothes, etc.) and we don’t know what …wants or needs, what will bring smiles to their faces. But there is a different way to consider gifts. Of course the quintessential Giver is God and the Christmas gift was Jesus, God’s Spirit born in a human baby, a baby who grew to manhood and offered Himself on the Cross to take away all our sins. No other gift can ever compare to this and we need to remember what Christmas is really all about and be eternally grateful. God is not a one-time Giver. He gives each of us gifts to enjoy and to use in service to Him and to others. Think about yourself. What are you passionate about? What can you do that is special? What do you love to do? These are your gifts from God. And they are meant to be enjoyed and shared. We serve God by using our gifts to help others. I recently watched a concert by the Amadeus Choir of Greater Toronto, an excellent group of singers, many of whom are friends of mine including our own Laura Hope. It was a joyful Christmas concert that was really uplifting and fun to sing along with. I know others who have gifts in many different areas. They are excellent cooks & bakers, organizers, fixers, helpers, etc. Even if you think you can’t do anything really well, you can always be a friend to someone who is lonely, afraid, depressed, having difficulty coping with things in their lives. A friendly phone call can make a huge difference. It may seem a small thing to you but might mean so much more to the recipient than you will ever know. And sometimes the most important gift we can give someone is an action, doing something for them that seems unimportant to us, but matters a great deal to them. That is a gift of love and that is what Christmas is really all about. Let us give thanks to God for all His amazing gifts to us, and use those gifts to help others and work to bring God’s Kingdom here on earth one person and one day at a time. Merry Christmas and enjoy all your gifts! Margaret Black Parish Nurse ____________________________________________ Parish Nursing Health Tip posted for the week of November 28, 2021 The Right Question This week I met a woman walking a small dog with sunglasses on. I had never seen this before. So I said “Cute dog but I’ve never seen a dog with sunglasses before”. She answered, “My dog is blind. Can’t see a thing.” What sprung to mind immediately was the usual “What’s wrong with this picture?. Isn’t it supposed to be sighted guide dogs leading blind people?” Then the answer came. Nothing is wrong with it. It’s just different. Different doesn’t mean wrong. This is a picture of love. Then I realized how often we bias ourselves by focusing on what we think is wrong and not seeing the positive aspects of a situation. We often feel uncomfortable with things that are different because we don’t understand them and fear they may require us to change. But differences are valuable because they give us opportunities for growth and increased understanding. Growth and change are vital parts of life. For example, getting to know people of different cultures and learning from their experiences and wisdom as we also help them learn how to adjust to our society can be an enriching experience for all of us. So maybe we need to start asking ourselves, “What’s right with this picture?” That will enable us to see the positive potential in a situation. That being said, there are many aspects of life in which “What’s wrong with this picture?” is the right question. Police removing homeless people from their encampments but offering them no place to go is a good example. I understand the fears of neighbourhood homeowners and the importance of police doing their job but as a society we need to come up with a better answer. Homeless people need their own community for social support as we all do. Destroying that just makes everything worse. I think the right question in this case is “Why, in a city as wealthy as Toronto, do we have so many homeless people and what can we do about it?” Some people think, “If they would just get a job they could afford a place to live.” Unfortunately it’s almost impossible for homeless people to get a job. They have no address, phone number, social and other skills that are necessary to access the job market. I don’t have answers but a few ideas. We need to find places to rehouse them while providing them with mental health help and other supports as we help them learn how to reintegrate into our society. This is a long-term, expensive process but God wants us to help the most vulnerable in our society. We can at least pray for them and give as we can to the organizations that work to help them. On a smaller but easier note, think about how you can help someone you know, maybe a friendly call. a small gift of cookies, or a smile to brighten their day. It will also brighten yours! And let’s learn to ask the right questions. Margaret Black, Parish Nurse _____________________________________________ Your Parish Nursing Health Tip posted on October 14, 2021 No Longer Alone Written by Ulla Mia "I spent years at war with my heart and mind. Anxiety lived like a free renter in my mind while depression overtook my heart. This has made it so hard for me to draw near to God. He offers peace, but I left no room for such a thing. It seemed impossible to trust in a God who ... " Continue reading here → _____________________________________________ Parish Nursing Health Tip posted on October 2, 2021 Truth and Reconciliation - How Did We Go So Wrong? The God I worship and serve is a God of unfathomable love and forgiveness for all His children. When the graves of the children at the Kamloops Residential School came to light, I couldn’t understand how all of this could have been happening for a long time without any of us knowing. I was appalled at our government for their hidden policy but also at our churches for accepting their edicts without apparent objection. Then I learned from a monthly newspaper, “Presbyterian Connection”, that I had it totally wrong! It was the churches that initiated this process centuries ago! As early as the 14th century, a series of Papal decrees gave European monarchs explicit permission “to forcibly take land not occupied by Christians, to exploit and abuse non-Christian peoples, to invade, conquer…and subjugate pagans and to lead their persons in perpetual servitude, and… to appropriate their realms…possessions and goods…to you and your use and your successors”. So it wasn’t the government forcing the churches to do this work, but the churches who led the government into this policy of colonialization. All I could think of was “Jesus wept”! Jesus who came to love, forgive, and save us all from our sins must be heartbroken. What can we, as Jesus’ disciples, do now to right these terrible wrongs? I certainly don’t have all the answers, but clearly I need to learn as much as I can from the standpoint of our Indigenous brothers and sisters. I am blessed to have wonderful Metis family members, but they have been reticent to talk about these issues until recently. My niece (nephew’s wife) told me that her aunt and uncle were residential school survivors, but that they were reluctant to talk about their experiences even with their own families because they were ashamed. We are the ones who should be ashamed! So much damage we have done in our ignorance. We have lived in a society of systemic racism without recognizing it. There is a lot of work to be done going forward but with true humility and with God’s guidance, I believe we can work together to acknowledge the wrongs of the past, make recompense as we are able, and start to treat our Indigenous brothers and sisters and people of all races and cultures with love, dignity and respect. This way we can build a society where all of God’s beloved children are helped to grow into the people He created each to be. We all have gifts that will help us to bring God’s Kingdom here on earth. Let’s use them. Margaret Black Parish Nurse _____________________________________________ Parish Nursing Health Tip posted on August 22, 2021 An Important Life Lesson At the end of our worship service on Sunday, August 15, Rev. Victor Li asked if there were any announcements for Iona. I responded with an update about Iona’s Search Committee. Then I went on to say that my prayers are with both Iona’s and St. Cyprian’s Search Committees, as we seek to “replace two irreplaceable men”. Victor thanked me but continued, “Everyone can be replaced. No one is indispensable”. My answer to that is “Yes and no”. Several years ago a very wise person said to me that when a beloved pet dies, we grieve the loss of one of our family members, but after a period of time, many people get another pet to keep them company, cheer them up, just be with them. Does that mean that you stop loving the previous pet? No! It just means that we make space in our hearts for the new pet, but the new one doesn’t take the place of the previous one. And so our hearts grow larger to make room for more love. The lesson I take from this is that when someone leaves a position, we can find a new individual to fill that position, but that person doesn’t replace the previous person in our hearts. We just grow bigger hearts to make space for the new person. For us, Victor and Robert will always remain as beloved spiritual mentors and good friends. This is good news for our Search Committees and congregations. We need to think about God’s mission for us in this community and the wider world, as we pray for others each day. Both congregations will grieve the loss of these two men, but we need to listen to God, as he seeks to lead us into the next chapter of our lives in His Kingdom. We must not be tempted to give up and think that there is no point in going forward. We need to believe that God will eventually bring the right person to lead each of our congregations so that we can continue and hopefully grow our ministry. The world around us is full of pain, grief, loss, anger, hopelessness, poverty, violence and injustice. God calls us to fight the things that are destroying our society and help to bring others to Him and gradually help to build His Kingdom here on earth. Even if it’s one person at a time, one day at a time, everything helps. Together we have a strong, loving community at Tri-Church, which can enrich the lives of so many others. We can give them hope, a sense of belonging, support, comfort, and love. For those who are alone and afraid, these are life-changing gifts. This is God’s will for us and a lasting testament to Robert’s and Victor’s ministry with us. Blessings, Margaret Black Tri-Church Parish Nurse _____________________________________________ Your Parish Nursing Health Tip posted on August 1, 2021 Another Lesson in Gratitude and A Special Tribute No doubt you’re tired of hearing me talk about gratitude, but it is one of the healing things in our lives. We so often take things for granted, including the people in our lives, assuming that they will always be there. Then suddenly they are gone and so are the opportunities to tell them how we feel and do the things we want to share with them. The pain and grief of loss can be overwhelming. This week, like many of you, I attended a beautiful online service for Dr. Peter Heyland. As always, I learned many things about him I didn’t know. I knew him as a member of St. Cyprian’s Anglican Church, a very strong bass in their choir and a wonderful husband to Margaret Heyland, my friend and supporter in the Parish Nursing Ministry at Tri-Church. Although I knew he was a doctor, I didn’t know he was an anesthesiologist at North York General Hospital for many years. Anesthesiology is a difficult specialty as there can be a fine line between keeping a patient “asleep” during surgery without overdosing him/her leading to death. We were blessed not only to have Peter’s expertise in this art, but also to have NYGH as our local hospital. According to an article in the North York Mirror, “NYGH has been ranked as the No. 1 community academic hospital in Canada and one of the top five hospitals overall in the country”! When you think of the major hospitals in Toronto, not to mention others across Canada, that is truly an amazing tribute! Dr. Peter Heyland through the years contributed to that rating. During the funeral service, I also learned many things about Peter as a husband and father that I didn’t know. The very moving and sometimes very humourous tributes of his two older sons, Geoffrey (“Goof” thanks to autocorrect) and Brian gave wonderful insights into this sometimes demanding, but always very loving father. Margaret, his beloved wife of 66 years, and Peter between them raised a family to be so proud of and grateful for. This legacy of love is being passed down through the generations leading to many more loving, giving people in the world. At this time of grief and loss, let us also be grateful for the memories we have of our times with Peter, in the family, at church, in combined choir presentations, and many other areas. And let us learn not to take for granted all who are important to us in our own lives. Whatever we want to say to them or do with them, let’s do it now. We are all busy, but things are not as important as people. Connecting with the people in our lives enriches us as well as them. Thanks be to God who is always with us. Blessings, Margaret Black Tri-Churches Parish Nurse _____________________________________________ Your Parish Nursing Health Tip posted on June 12, 2021 A Different Pandemic As if COVID-19 weren’t enough, we now have a new pandemic of hatred and destruction. Within 2 weeks we have learned of a mass grave at a former Indigenous residential school containing the remains of 215 unidentified children, and a family out for an evening walk murdered by a 20-year-old white man with a truck due to Islamophobia. I feel as if I am swimming in an ocean of grief for those who have been irrevocably hurt and guilt because I am a white person with a British heritage. So I am seeking answers and a way forward. First, I am very grateful for family members and friends from different backgrounds. In my family are children who are part Asian, part Black, and Metis and they are all wonderful people whom we dearly love. And I have Muslim neighbours who are very good friends, always bringing me food when they have a family BBQ and waiting to invite me over again when COVID is gone. Having all these people in my life is a truly enriching experience. The residential school system is a more complicated matter that weighs all of us down. The fact that these things were happening at the direction of the Canadian government without our awareness, and worse still that the churches were involved, is beyond terrible. How can these things happen? I believe that hatred is the offspring of fear. We are afraid of things we don’t understand, of changes that may negatively affect us, of not being in control. So we build up terrible negative stereotypes in our minds and seek to destroy the things we feel threatened by. Hatred and discrimination destroy not only those who are the objects of hatred but also the haters. Regardless of whether they ever face legal justice, the haters live in self-imposed prisons for life. This is not the Canada I understood as I was growing up, and not the Canada I want to live in now. So how can we change things for the better? I think the key is working hard not only to recognize our potential hidden biases, but also to ensure we open ourselves to learn about those who are different. Under the skin we are all children of God. The Bible is full of stories about helping others (e.g. the Good Samaritan). Jesus summarized all the law and the prophets into the Two Great Commandments: Love God first with all our heart, soul, mind, & strength: and second, Love our neighbours as ourselves. This may not be easy but it is the way forward. Even if we have never had negative thoughts about others, terrible wrongs have been done in our society and we need to acknowledge that to the victims and to work hard to change a culture that allows these things to happen. Only then can begin to heal and go forward in unity. Let us all pray for God’s guidance, strength and patience to help us. Margaret Black Tri-Churches Parish Nurse _____________________________________________ Your Parish Nursing Health Tip for the week of April 25, 2021 Life in Pandemic Times As I have mentioned before, 50% of our tendency to be optimists or pessimists is genetic. We have no control over that. Of the remaining 50%, 10% is due to external circumstances (e.g. COVID-19) and the other 40% is something we can work on. Right now I think COVID has managed to turn all of us into pessimists! We are awash in grief, fear, anxiety, anger, loneliness, depression - the list goes on. When we are in this kind of state, even trying to summon the willpower to think about possibly changing our outlook is too much effort. However a family member recently sent me an email with a poem which made me think again. Here it is. I hope it helps you too. ______________________________ THE WORLD IS MINE Today, upon a bus, I saw a very beautiful woman and wished I were as beautiful. When suddenly she rose to leave, I saw her hobble down the aisle She had one leg and used a crutch, but as she passed, she passed a smile, Oh, God, forgive me when I whine I have two legs; The World Is Mine I stopped to buy some candy. The lad who sold it had such charm I talked with him, he seemed so glad. If I were late, it'd would do no harm. And as I left he said to me "I thank you, you've been so kind It's nice to talk with folks like you" You see, he said "I'm blind." Oh, God, forgive me when I whine I have two eyes, The World Is Mine Later walking down the street, I saw a Child That I Knew He stood and watched the others play, But he didn't know what to do. I stopped a moment then I said "Why don't you join them, dear?" He looked ahead without a word I forgot, he could not hear Oh, God, forgive me when I whine I have two ears, The World Is Mine With feet to take me where I'd go With eyes to see the sunset glow With ears to hear what I would know Oh, God, forgive me when I whine I've been blessed indeed The World Is Mine "If my poem made you feel thankful, Just forward it to your friends. After all, it's just a reminder that we have much to be thankful for. Give the Gift Of Love, it never comes back empty! I have been truly blessed with my awesome friends". By Joy Lovelet Crawford ______________________________ Like this author, I have also been blessed with AWESOME FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS including you who are reading this. Most especially I am blessed with the knowledge that God is always with us and loves us unconditionally. When you feel too overwhelmed, tell your loving Heavenly Father and open yourself to feel His Presence in your life. Together we will get through this. Blessings to all of you. Margaret Black Parish Nurse _____________________________________________ Your Parish Nursing Health Tip for the week of April 4, 2021 The Incomparable Gift Holy week and Easter weekend: I have been thinking about “the incomparable gift” this week, but struggling with conflicting ideas. Originally the answer was “Life”. Then I thought about the homeless, the prisoner, the sick and grieving, the lonely, etc. For many people life is NOT a gift but an en endless, meaningless struggle. Then “Love” suggested itself to me. So important, but somehow incomplete. Today, after the Maundy Thursday & Good Friday services, the obvious answer came to mind. Where do Love & Life intersect? In Jesus on the Cross. As others have noted, it wasn’t Roman soldiers, Jewish rabbis, and nails that put Jesus on the Cross. It was Love. And that Love gave all of us Life, both here and in eternity. Life filled with God’s Love is God’s “incomparable gift” to us. Like all gifts, we are meant to use and enjoy it. But how do we live this “incomparable gift” in our own lives? When we are sick, in pain, grieving, lonely, afraid, we don’t feel joyful. And that’s OK. These are normal human experiences which we have to acknowledge and live through, but we will get through them. When I think about what Jesus must have gone through on the Cross and on the days leading up to it, whatever I’m experiencing, pales in comparison. But Jesus accepted it as God’s will and that helped Him to fulfill it. Although sometimes our problems are self-inflicted, other problems are just part of living. Whatever the source of our problems, we also have to accept God’s will and follow where He leads us. Reading and talking about it is not enough. We have to allow ourselves to experience God’s Presence on a daily basis. For me this may happen in seeing a beautiful sunrise, receiving a call from a loved family member or friend, or in recognizing the abundance of my life (a roof over my head; a full fridge; heat when I’m cold; clean water, hot or cold, for a shower or drink at the touch of a tap). Having spent a couple of months in Kenya on a mission trip has made me acutely aware of things we accept here as a normal part of life. How then do we live in a way that helps others experience God’s Love in their lives? Right now we are limited by COVID restrictions, but there are still avenues open to us. I might call someone I know who is lonely, or offer to pick up something at the store for a friend who can’t get out, or donate to a charity for the homeless.There are many possibilities. Just pick one thing a day that can help someone else and you will have made a difference in their life. That is the Living God’s Love. Wishing you a Blessed, Happy, Healthy Easter. Margaret Black Tri-Church Parish Nurse _____________________________________________ Your Parish Nursing Health Tip for the week of February 20, 2021 Life in End Times My microwave beeps when it has heated my food and I glance at it to check the time. Instead of giving me the time, it simply says “End”. That reminds me of the biblical passages in Revelation dealing with the “End Times”. There will be wars & rumours of wars, plagues, darkness, etc. before the End. Many of us may feel right now like we are living in these dark times - COVID-19 and its new variants that keep us in isolation, loved ones with serious health problems, job & business losses, loneliness, depression, anxiety, climate change that threatens our future on earth. It is a difficult time for everyone. How are we meant to get through all of this? First we can remember that our parents and grandparents survived their “end times” experiences - World Wars, depressions, previous pandemics (Spanish Flu, SARS, etc.) and other dangerous infections (Ebola, polio, measles, mumps, and so on). And they did it without the technology that helps us to stay in touch with each other now. I suspect each generation has its “end times” experience at some point. Maybe that is an important part of our earthly experience. It can help us to grow and seek new ways of dealing with difficult challenges. We can care for and support each other even at a distance. We can learn healthier ways of living on earth that don’t threaten to destroy it. God gave us a Garden. Hopefully, with God’s help, we can learn to be good stewards. Next we can remember that every night eventually ends in a morning filled with light. The Bible reminds us that we may spend the night weeping but joy comes in the morning. The challenge is to get through the night. Gratitude can help. There are many things in our lives that we take for granted - warm, comfortable homes; abundant food & fresh water; the love of family & friends, etc. We tend to focus on what we are losing and forget the many things we have to be thankful for. Every day find at least one thing in your life that gives you comfort & joy. That becomes a ray of sunshine to help you through the darkness. Finally, remember that we are not alone. Jesus said, “Bring your burdens to Me”. Instead of carrying our fears and troubles by ourselves, we can leave them at Jesus’ feet. He didn’t promise us an easy life but He did promise to be with us always. I often find myself trying to “run the world”. Then I am reminded that is God’s job, not mine, and thankfully I can let things go. Together, with God’s help, we will get through these difficult times and find we are stronger, better, more caring people as a result. Thank God for His blessings each day and watch for the morning’s light. This is not The End. Margaret Black Tri-Church Parish Nurse _____________________________________________
	COVID-19 Symptoms? fever, cough, difficulty breathing, pneumonia in both lungs. How does it spread? Through respiratory droplets spread when you cough/sneeze; close personal contact (e.g. touching or shaking hands); touching something with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose or eyes before washing your hands. Protection of yourself and others? Wash your hands often (after coughing, sneezing, blowing your nose, touching common-use areas, such as door handles, elevator buttons, etc.) with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (back and front, special attention to nail areas); use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available; avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands avoid close contact with people who are sick; cough or sneeze into your sleeve instead of into your hands; and stay home to avoid spreading the illness to others. _________________________________________________

	A new year… a clean slate… Abundant Life Caregivers Also Need Care Christmas Hope Dreaming of a BLUE Christmas… Emergency Preparedness Faith and Values Fall Savvy Promotes Winter Safety Fraud Protection Fun in the Sun Health and Well-being Health Problems 1: Type 2 Diabetes Health Problems 2: Type 2 Diabetes in Children Health Problems 3: Coronary Heart Disease Health Problems 4: The Cancers Learning to Listen Lessons from the Past Let it Go No Excuse Sunday No Other Gods Palm Sunday - Passion Sunday Risk Season of Lent Self-Defence 1: Healthy Nutrition Self-Defence 2: Healthy Activity Sleep and You Stress 1: Do You Have Balance in Your Life? Stress 2: Ways of Managing Stress Stress 3: Stress and Disease Stress 4: Post-Traumatic Stress Stress 5: Factors Influencing Our Perception of Stress Stress 6: Making Changes Understanding Grief What is Health?