My wife Rachelle and I are sitting by the fire while our daughter Emmie listens to a new CD about a violin going through many ages of music that her aunt Margaret just gave her. Rachelle’s reading a book on Greek history, and she just leaned over and commented to me how much we take for granted our health and the health of our kids, and what a miraculous gift these are.
I responded, “Yes, it’s effortless and yet tremendous.”
I was immediately reminded of a simple but powerful story I read in Florence Shinn’s book yesterday:
I knew a woman who had seven children. She knew they were all Divinely protected and
and they all grew up safe and sound. One day a neighbor rushed in and said, “You had
better call your children, they are all climbing up and down trees–they are going to kill
themselve!” My friend replied, “O they’re only playing tree-tag. Don’t look at them and
nothing will happen.” p. 342
“Don’t look at them and nothing will happen.”
Irresponsible, or a powerful clue to well-being?
Ponder that one, because that’s certainly been our experience with the health and well-being of each other and our kids…
Now, for further reading on the paradox of healing, here’s an excellent article I just read by Philip Golabuk:
One of the statements that jumped out at me was:
“Not all of a person has cancer, after all.” (You can substitute any condition for “cancer” here.)
and the distinction between the phrases,
“I am a cancer patient.” and “I am a person with cancer.”
In brief, the article touches on the powerful concept of identity.
When you experience a condition or situation–in your body, your money, your parenting, or your relationships–do you acknowledge it as just something temporary that you’re passing through, or are you identifying with it…making it part of your identity…so that the condition perpetuates?
“Do not be afraid. Only believe.”
“Don’t look at them, and nothing will happen.”
You are always more than any condition or situation you’re experiencing.
You can choose to live in worry or fear, or to live in the assumption of well-being…
Which is more “real”, the appearance of things around you, or the “unseen real” beyond what you “see”…
Food for thought.
To your abundant and blessed well-being,
Dr. Ben
Dr. Ben’s Health Insights — get your free weekly insights delivered by email here: https://doctorbenlo.com