It’s Mental Health Awareness week and I’m into week 3 of Mental Health First Aid. The irony of my anxiety being triggered by the anxiety modul was not lost on me. A reminder of the ease and how quickly circumstances can trip us. Balance was restored as I had a couple of work phone calls, and I even got a restorative, if bracing swim at the Lido. By happy chance I found ‘Happiness Half Hour’ on BBC Sounds app and listened with interest about scientific study proving that ‘counting our blessings’ was proven to increase happiness by 25%. Guests had been asked to write a gratitude list and that reminded me of ‘gratitude beads’.
The ‘Little Flower’, St Therese of Lisieux; remember the one who is linked to the shower of roses and reminding us that it’s ok to be a daisy? Yep that’s the one. Originally the beads were called sacrifice beads, today called gratitude - like ’repentance’, ‘sacrifice’ is awkward. Gratitude and love, sound so much better. We avoid these harsh realities. Today is Ascension Day, our crucified Lord returns to our Father in heaven...
“...When they were together for the last time they asked, “Master, are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel now? Is this the time?”He told them, “You don’t get to know the time. Timing is the Father’s business. What you’ll get is the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world.”These were his last words. As they watched, he was taken up and disappeared in a cloud. They stood there, staring into the empty sky. Suddenly two men appeared—in white robes! They said, “You Galileans!—why do you just stand here looking up at an empty sky? This very Jesus who was taken up from among you to heaven will come as certainly—and mysteriously—as he left...” Acts 1:6-11 (The Message)
When God was ready they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and with gratitude, sacrifice and love share the good news with all who would listen and those who had yet to.
Anxiety robs you of your status quo, your equilibrium, your ability to think rationally. Living in a constant state of stress is not good, for anyone as it affects your bodies healthy response (hence my blood pressure tablets)! It was with gratitude that the ability to pray was not too badly affected. On radio 4 last Sunday the Archbishop of York, The most Rev’d Stephen Cottrell talked about a beautiful response to prayer, physically which resonated with me. Archbishop Stephen quoted Henri Nowen and the tight fist method of prayer. We’ve done this with our hand prayers. This variation asks us to clench our fist tight, unleashing the thumb first and thanking God for all the good things we have received, all the things we are grateful to God for and for His mercy and grace. Our index finger for God’s direction in our life and where we are being led, where we think we want to go, finding our path through the darkness. The middle finger, asks us to pray for the Queen, her ministers and wisdom and guidance in leadership. The ring finger, our weakest, it is where we need God to help us in all thinga as we support our loved ones and are supported likewise. Our little finger for those who need help, the sick, the poor, the bereaved, and those who mourn, and finally opening both hands in thanksgiving and for our own needs. I’ve copied the link here as it was a service that resonated deeply.
Gratitude beads then? Golfing friends will recognise this concept, 10 beads on string that
help us count our shots for each hole...gratitude here is when we don’t reach double figures. St Therese advocated Counting her daily sacrifices, now usually termed ‘good deeds’ or gratitudes. Each time a blessing (good deed) is done a bead is moved on the strings. When the fixed 10 bead is reached the Lord’s Prayer can be said. For some this is close to the Catholic rosary, the circlet of beads arranged in decades (10’s) interspersed with a prayer to Mary (the Hail Mary), ending with the Gloria and the Lord’s Prayer. The Anglican chaplet, a smaller yet similar arrangement of 33 beads signifying the life of Jesus. Four larger beads at north, south, east and west form a cross shape, with a larger bead outside the bead circle. I’ve placed the link here as it’s quite interesting. The very physical act of moving, releasing our hands and for some moving beads helps keep us grounded in the act of praying. Prayer is hard work! Don’t let anyone tell you it’s not!
These gratitude beads have been made by young people in Nepal. Gratitude beads are found in many faiths. Different viewpoints, but all to aid counting our blessing.
Counting our blessings is loosely linked into one of the 5 a day good mental health aims. The Action for Happiness Organisation set up to help with our wellbeing cites ‘Great Dreams’ as a way to make sure we have balance...
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Yes this is secular, but faith and meditation has also been proven to bring balance to our lives. It started me thinking perhaps there is something of the Great Commission in this...
“...Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:16-20
With a gathering of senses and a more even keel this week, a quick check led me to realise a little order had been regained. Increased activity, tick. Talking with real people, tick. Thinking and praying in each moment. Tick (that was harder but well you know what worriers are)! Learning (mental health first aid). Tick. Sewing chemo bags, and pillows. Tick. Amongst all that a little more awareness that self care was needed, no good being a first aider if your unwell yourself! A tight wound up stress ball in my mind and heart had been released, I grateful hold out my hands in gratitude and thanksgiving for my God that loves.
Happy to be a daisy. Peace be with you friends. <><
Caroline :)
Virtual Celtic Morning prayers 9am tomorrow https://www.northumbriacommunity.org/offices/morning-prayer/
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