Good Days...Bad Days With Maureen Pratt

The period between New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day is short, but we do spend a lot of time thinking and wondering about it. For many, there is relief at seeing the “old” year go, and for some, anxiety about the unknown often takes the form of questions: What will the new year hold?…

It’s a couple of days after the holiday, a couple of days after we sang Noel and celebrated the birth of Our Lord. And, perhaps, as the leftovers are settled and the wrapping is dispatched, you might begin to feel critical of yourself. Perhaps you didn’t feel physically as well as you wanted to. Maybe…

It doesn’t matter how much there is still left to do, nor how much will go undone.  It doesn’t matter that the Christmas cake is a little over-cooked, nor that the casserole doesn’t taste exactly like grandmother’s did. Ingredients omitted, a gift forgotten, snow, rain, ice, cold – whether or not these things are or…

It’s crunch time, now. No matter how physically impaired you might be, if you’re looking forward to Christmas, you undoubtedly see a lot of “musts” in your path between now and December 24/25. Errand. Doc appointments. Visits. Travel, perhaps. Present wrapping. Budget figuring. It’s an endless list. But, know what? I’ve found one of the…

Didn’t it begin earlier? Winter, I mean. Snow has already blanketed much of the Northern Hemisphere, and cold temps have thrown many areas into a deep freeze. Yet, calendar-wise, winter has only begun on December 21. Makes me wonder if the dates really matter much, when we see what’s really happening in the world. After…

I’ve had more doctor appointments than usual, lately, because of the episode with my eye. So, I’ve tried to “lighten” things up by finding bits of humor. I recommend this for any heart that is heavy with the burdens of chronic illness. No doubt about it, laughter or even a simple smile at something humorous…

During holiday season, we come in contact with many more people than we usually do. In the course of our conversations, we probably talk about the health challenges we’ve endured throughout the year-almost-past (or, at least some of them).  And, perhaps, the person with whom we’re speaking says something like, “Oh, you’re so strong!’ or…

We’re almost halfway through Advent, nearly two weeks away from once again welcoming the Prince of Peace. How is your peace? Are you frazzled from all the activity of the Season, yet? Feeling buffeted by family squabbles that have a way of erupting at this time of year? Are you struggling, waging a war of…

The spirit of the Lord God is upon me,     because the Lord has anointed me; He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the lowly,     to heal the brokenhearted To proclaim liberty to the captives   and release to the prisoners, To announce a year of favor from the Lord…

If my experience last week is any example, I was strongly reminded that illness does not go on a holiday during the holidays – and when things go awry, it’s important to seek the right help, even if it interferes with holiday plans. Monday, I felt fine. Monday evening, my right eye felt funny. By…

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