Commentary

Family Discussions

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The wind was blowing harder, but Mr. Goodpasture had a;ready built a bonfire to burn the limbs that he had trimmed from the trees in the park where he worked.

Armistice Day Proclaimed

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1919- President Wilson proclaimed Armistice Day on the first anniversary of the end of World War I to commemorate the termination of the conflict. The anniversary of the Armistice was marked in Tulsa in the same manner as the celebration of the wars end in 1918. Factory whistles began blowing, church bells began ringing and firearms were discharged beginning at 4 a.m.,the time the news arrived in Tulsa. Schools were dismissed at noon, and many businesses closed to allow their employees to celebrate. Congress changed the name to Veterans Day in 1954 to broaden its scope.

“The Most Important Person In The World”

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“I hate this, I don’t want to have to go thru this!” Don’t blame you for feeling that. But sometimes, maybe you need ‘this’. Maybe, it’s going to prepare you for something that is coming your way, years from now. Or just maybe, it is to shape you into becoming a better person. Truth is, your Creator knows you, and knows exactly what’s needed in your life.

Thinking Out Loud

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Scissortail Hospice Chaplain Bristow, Oklahoma ONHL Hospice Chaplain Drumright, Oklahoma Are you or someone you know spiraling downward toward the bottom of life due to uncontrolled sadness and depression? Maybe you have turned to drugs or alcohol to seek happiness or just to escape from the Black Hole of depression. Or maybe you have even started to consider just ending it all because you feel there is no hope! You are NOT alone.

Grieving Well?

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Grief is a highly individual process, as unique as the people experiencing it. Everything from our personal histories and culture to personality traits and temperament affect how we experience and cope with a major loss in our life.

“Plan, Execute And Enjoy…In The Right Dose”

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Renie wanted a gorgeous new flower garden. So she spent some time picking the brain of a college educated agriculturalist. A man who had spent years as a high school teacher in that field. Plus, for the last ten years after retirement, he and his wife had a “hobby” - working their own small truck farm. He had qualifications galore for knowing when, what, where, and how to plant just about anything.

Does It Ever End?

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When a person dies, his or her suffering is over. They have moved on; however, those who are still living are faced with huge pressures, devastating trauma, important decisions, and powerful emotions. The survivor’s grieving process has just begun. The attention of friends and relatives has been focused on the one who was dying. Now the ones living who are left behind and most closely affected by the death need the concern and caring of family and friends. None of us know what grief will be like until we experience it firsthand. We may expect to be sad or lonely, but may be surprised to feel other emotions like anger and guilt. It can be a surprise to discover that family relationhips and friendship may not be the same because of the change the grief-stricken have undergone after a loss. In recent years, research has shown that there are identifiable patterns of emotions in grief. Knowing what those are can help you recognize that the turmoil and pain felt are part of healing the injury that death has inflicted. Grieving is the process that heals the emotions related to loss and the subsequent changes in your life, but they won't last forever. Emotional reactions to the death of a loved one follow a fairly defined course. Giving into these natural feelings and letting them occur in their natural timing while being aware of things we may do that block the process will enable healing to take place. Death is a wound--a severe and painful psychological wound. As with any injury to the physical body, healing requires tender loving care, gentleness, and time. Change is the key. Some changes including happy events like graduation, marriage, and the birth of a child all require adjustment. Painful changes like the death of a loved one, separation, and abandonment require greater adjustment. Grief is the process of accepting the inevitability of this type of change and is an important, necessary part of being alive. Successfully dealing with change allows you to reach higher levels of growth, sensitivity, and understanding of yourself and others. The death of someone important in our lives is a change--a major one-and sometimes a sudden one. The relationship we had with the person dictates the intensity of your grief.

Hobgoblins of Grief !

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Grief is a cacophony of unpleasant emotions: pain, regret, guilt, remorse, fear, anxiety, all waxing and waning at will. But beneath them all, all the time, is the melancholy oboe that is sadness.