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Book sale from 08 - 15 December 2021

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All books selling @ R10.00 each.

Santa Claus is coming to town!

On Christmas day, the three-year-old toddler announced: “I know who is Santa!”  “How do you know that?”  his dad asked.  “Well,” the little boy replied, “Santa bumped his toe against the leg of my bed, last night and he then said all your favourite words!”

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Hercie

06 Dec 2021

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (A.D.H.D.)

This condition is commonly seen as the inability to concentrate or focus on a specific activity or topic e.g. a classroom activity or when a topic needs to be read or studied or listened to. It would perhaps be better to describe the condition as the inability of the brain to select the stimuli (information) that it should focus on. This then means that the person suffering from this condition, focusses on everything whether visually or auditory. The person is therefore literally bombarded by too much information. This can cause a restlessness in the person or in some cases it causes absent mindedness which results in daydreaming.

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The A.D.H.D. is mostly associated with childhood. For a child to be diagnosed with this condition, the symptoms must have occurred before the age of four years. Children are usually diagnosed after entering school, when learning problems or behavioural problems start to appear.

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A common misconception about the condition is that children will outgrow it. It is however, never outgrown; the individual simply learns to live with it.

A.D.H.D. often runs in families. When a child is diagnosed with A.D.H.D. it is highly likely that his or her parent or another close relative also suffers from it.

The cause of A.D.H.D. is yet unknown. It may have to do with the neuro-transmitters (brain fluids) that are either too little or too much.

The symptoms of A.D.H.D. amongst others are:

1. Inability to remember or perform a task, correctly.

2. Loosing belongings e.g. clothing, books, pens etc.

3. Clumsiness due to poor co-ordination

4. Restlessness e.g. fiddling, chattering, etc.

5. Irregular handwriting and spacial orientation problems.

6. Poor memory.

7. Insomnia

8. Behavioural problems. Such as anger outbursts or the throwing of tantrums.

Behavioural problems are mostly the result of a child being scolded or punished often, which leads to the child feeling rejected. This often has a snowball effect:  The child seeks attention; even if it is negative attention, which once again initiates scolding or punishment. If this vicious circle is not broken, the child can reject his or her parents when adulthood is reached. This then causes pain to all parties involved.

To avoid the above-mentioned situation, it is good to keep in mind that if the child is not harming anybody or anything, let him or her be. It is harder for him/her to concentrate when simultaneously having to concentrate on keeping still. It is always better to reward good behaviour than to concentrate on negative behaviour.

Keep in mind that folks with this condition, usually love debating and have inquiring minds. Do not smother this, but rather encourage this by supporting them to find answers if you do not know the answer.

A calm quiet home and school environment is to be recommended. Small classes are ideal. Screens can be put around a learner to eliminate visual stimuli. This, however, should be done without stigmatising the particular learner.

Parents should try and spend private time with their child with A.D.H.D. meaning a one-on-one situation without involving the other parent or siblings.

Following a routine with meals, bedtime, time to get up in the morning, study time etc. works best. The routine can, however, be relaxed during weekends and school holidays. Setting boundaries and maintaining them will hopefully help the child grow into a self-disciplined adult.

It is good for any child to be taught to follow Christ. It gives meaning to life and Someone to turn to in one’s joys and sorrows. It also provides opportunities to meet fellow Christians who may be less judgemental than others. It is, however, impossible to cultivate this if you yourself do not follow Christ.

It is also good not to take life, your children, spouse, or yourself, too serious. Humour is ever present. Enjoy your family and friends while they are around.

I have only come across one book in which A.D.H.D. in adults was discussed. It was written by two professors, who both suffered from the condition. Unfortunately, I do not have access to the book anymore and do not know the title of the book or the authors. Be this as it may, the two professors made it clear that A.D.H.D. was not the result of wrong parenting. They were also convinced that it does not disappear, but that one should learn to manage it. According to these two authors setting deadlines helped them in their careers. They would rather work through the night before a deadline, than start earlier. The reason for this was that they found it extremely difficult to get started on a task while with the pressure of a deadline, they were forced to do so.

I, on the other hand, who do not suffer from the same condition, but from bi-polar, would rather plan ahead to avoid stressful situations.  But being adults, we should be able to determine what works best for us, ourselves.

In the workplace the two authors recommend a sympathetic colleague who could support the person with A.D.H.D. with telephonic discussions, preferably, daily. For home life the two of them recommend a weekly group, even if it means that one has to “shop around” to find a suitable group where one feels accepted and at home. I think that a church group e.g. a home cell or Bible study group will do the trick for Christians. For others, a group that has a specific activity in mind e.g. a book club, or a fishing club or sewing group etc.  may suit this need.

These professors also point out that people with A.D.H.D. prefer to pace when discussing topics e.g. when in therapy or in conversation about something stressful. They recommend that this should be allowed rather than forcing the person to stay put.

As far as the intelligence of people with A.D.H.D.  are concerned, I think you find them right across the spectrum. Some are brilliant and others not. Even if a child fails a grade (and this applies to any child whether he or she has the condition or not) it does not mean that the child is mentally challenged. It can be that the problem was not dealt with correctly for whatever reason e.g. the class was too big, or the learner had emotional problems etc.

Medication can sometimes be helpful. This, however, varies from individual to individual and should be discussed with a professional.

In conclusion, I would like to encourage you if you suspect that your child or you yourself are challenged with this condition, to seek professional help.

God bless,

Hercie.

22 Nov 2021

LOVE

Love takes time. It needs a history of giving and receiving, laughing and crying….

Love never promises instant gratification, only ultimate fulfilment.

Love means believing in someone, in something.

It supposes a willingness to struggle, to work, to suffer and to rejoice. Satisfaction and ultimate fulfilment are by-products of dedicated love. They belong only to those who can reach beyond themselves; to whom giving is more important than receiving.

Love is doing everything you can to help others build whatever dreams they have.

Love involves much careful and active listening. It is doing whatever needs to be done, and saying whatever will promote the other’s happiness, security, and well-being. Sometimes, love hurts.

Love is a constant journey to what others need. It must be attentive, caring, and open, both to what others say and what others cannot say…

Love says no with empathy and great compassion.

Love is firm, but when needed it must be tender. When others have tried and failed, love is the hand in yours, in your moments of discouragement and disappointment.

Love is reliable.

Love is a choice and commitment to others’ true and lasting happiness. It is dedicated to growth and fulfilment.

Love is not selfish.

Love sometimes fails for lack of wisdom or abundance of weakness, but forgives, knowing that the intentions are good.

Love does not attach conditions…genuine love is always a free gift.

Love realizes and accepts that there will be disagreements and disturbing emotions… there may be times when miles lay between. but love is a commitment. It believes and endures all things.

Love encourages freedom of self.

Love shares positive and negative reactions to warm and cold feelings.

Love, intimate love, will never reject others. It is the first to encourage and the last to condemn.

Love is a commitment to growth, happiness, and fulfilment of one another

Barb Upham

Shared by Hercie

01 Nov 2021

Can or will Jesus heal me?

I realise that this topic is a sensitive one and although I am going to attempt to voice my opinion the last word on it has by no means been spoken.

When we turn to the end of the Gospel of John (John 20:30-31) John says that Jesus did many more signs… but that those that were described were so that we could believe that Jesus is the Messiah and that we by believing, can have eternal life.  The first reason why Jesus performs miracles, is therefore so that He should be glorified and when we do this by honouring Him as our Saviour, He grants us eternal life.

Because of the above argument some people say that miracles were only necessary to be performed in biblical times to strengthen and reveal Jesus as the Messiah, but now that we have the Bible in full, miracles are no longer necessary and do no longer take place.  I beg to differ!  First of all, each person who is healed or who recovers from a common cold or from Covid 19 or from cancer etc. should thank God for healing him or her.  Even when God uses the medical science to achieve this, it is still God who is performing a miracle!

Secondly, in James 5:14-15, Jesus promises that if someone is ill, the person should call on the elders and if they believe the sick will be healed and when he/she has sinned it will be forgiven.

Thirdly, I have experienced supernatural healings:  I have an aunt who is a firm Christian.  She was diagnosed with colon cancer in 1975.  The doctor gave her six months to live.  Many people prayed for her recovery and no doubt she received medical treatment, but she is still living a full life, even today!

Lastly, on this point:  As many of you know I have cerebral palsy and attended a school for the cerebral palsied.  There was a little boy, who went to school with me, between the ages of 9-11.  He could only walk with the aid of elbow crutches.  One night his father carried the boy to his bedroom after supper and put him down on his bed.  He, however left the boy’s crutches in the dining room.  The boy wanted to tell his mom, who was in the kitchen, something.  He got up and walked to his mom without any aids and has done so ever since!

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Having said this, we all know that not everyone is healed.  Many people’s faith has been crushed by Christian leaders who have said to those who had seeked healing through prayer, that it is not God’s will that people should be ill or disabled.  When they are not healed after prayer it is because their faith is not strong enough.  This argument has left many people feeling that they are failures, and that God (Jesus) does not love them.  Another reason that is given for the fact that people are not always healed upon prayer, is that the person must have committed some or other sin.

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To return to the first argument, that illness is not the will of God:  God has created everything, including man, perfect (Genesis 1), but because of man’s disobedience to God by falling when he was tempted by Satan, sin and its consequences entered the world.  God is not the author of evil, yet He utilises, controls and sets boundaries to it.  He uses evil to our benefit; not necessarily to promote our comfort, but definitely to build our characters.  God sent his Son to redeem those who believe in Him.  Jesus overcame death by his resurrection and by doing so, performed the greatest miracle ever.  If one reads 2 Corinthians 12 together with Galatians 4, it becomes clear that Paul was not healed from his thorn in the flesh.  Surely Paul’s faith was not too feeble!  At the bath of Bethesda Jesus healed but one person, although there were many that were ill or disabled. (John 5)

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The crucifixion and resurrection of Christ are the greatest evidence of God’s love for us.  (Romans 5:8; John 15:13).  There is nothing more that Jesus could do to prove that he loves us.

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To respond to the argument that we might have sinned and therefore cannot be healed, John 9:3, when Jesus healed the man born blind and James 5:15 contradict this.

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So, to return to our first two questions:  Can Jesus heal me?  Certainly!  It has been proven.  Secondly, will Jesus heal me?  The answer to this question, I do not know.  God’s Master plan is far too great and complex for us to box God in.  All I know, also in my personal circumstances, is that His grace is sufficient.  I also take heart from Philippians 2:10-11, which is, of course, in the first place a warning to His foes, yet to us it is a beautiful promise:  that one day our paralysed knees will bow, and our paralysed tongues will confess that Jesus is Lord in complete adoration, and to the glory of God, our Father!

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God bless.

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Hercie

18 Oct 2021