Look to your health; and if you have it, praise God and value it next to conscience; for health is the second blessing that we mortals are capable of, a blessing money can't buy.
Izaak Walton (1593 - 1683)
This evening my husband came home from the mosque in a state of shock. One of his friends, a young man, 35 years of age, just returned from London where he received treatment for sinus cancer. He is weak and feeble; his facial features have changed dramatically; his teeth have decayed and his neck looks as if it has been burned. His young children did not recognize him when arrived back home. My heart literally aches to hear stories such as this.
I had just read this article about longevity which states:
Several basic factors have started to emerge as being behind a long lifespan: a plant-based diet; regular, low-intensity activity; an investment in family; a sense of faith; and purpose.
One of my favorite recipes is a cabbage salad given to me by my girlfriend, Melissa.
Break up 1 package of ramen noodles and add to a pan with 1/4 cup slivered almonds and 2 TBS of sesame seeds. Bake at 350 for 5-8 minutes or until golden. Mix together 3 cups of shredded cabbage, 1/4 cup of sliced green onions and dress with a mixture of 3 TBS canola oil, 2 TBS rice vinegar, 2 TBS soy sauce, 1 tsp sugar and 1/2 tsp sesame oil. Stir everything together and serve with vegetarian chicken nuggets (or the real thing if you prefer).
Last night I read two chapters in my book. The writing is much different than what I expected, but I get the message. Grace, thanksgiving, joy. Giving thanks in everything.
the moon as it grows ever fuller with a new month just around the corner,
Have a blessed day!
32 comments:
I'm thankful for you too, Tammy!!
Such a sad story - that poor man and his family. You echo fully what I've always believed and tried my best to embrace... be thankful.
Kind regards,
Linda ♥
I too praise God for health and healing and life, all his good gifts!
I love the quote about longevity. So true.
Thank you for this post. And for the recipe. Sounds yummy!
Oh, goodness, Tammy...so sad to hear about your husband's friend. We really don't appreciate our blessings as much as we should, do we? Good health is such a WONDERFUL gift!
So important to be grateful--I try every day to remember the things I've been given and be thankful--thank-you for such a beautiful reminder, dear friend...
Julie
That is sad news and perhaps God has a healing for the young man. I have the same book you have, but haven't started reading it yet. I always start the day with a prayer of gratitude.
And we are all so thankful for you, you take us places we may never see, you share your life and friendship. Your husbands friend has been added to my prayers.
Hugs,
Meredith
I too count my blessings. One of them is you. You added so much joy to my day when you stopped by to check on me. Thank you, I am doing well and walking again after three months. It was difficult to post while my arm was broken and I guess I just got out of the habit. I do appreciate your concern and good wishes. Stella
I'm thankful for you as well. That kind of news jolts you to the core. I hope your husband's friend recovers his health. Thank you for the reminder to take care of ourselves. The recipe sounds good, too. Diane
Tammy, I am sorry to hear about your husband's friend. I try to give thanks each day for my blessings. We all have trials but set backs, but through it all God gives us amazing blessings if we only notice.
Wishing you a beautiful week.
I am very sorry for your young friend - he has quite a battle right now - it is a good thing that he has friends who love and care. Thank you for the reminder of what it's all about ... and your salad recipe looks yummy too :)
I try to be thankful every day and to take nothing for granted.
Lovely post, Tammy.
S
xo
Loved your post and am so sorry for your husband's friend. I must say every nite I thank the good Lord for the day I just finished, warts and all. :) Kit
So sorry to hear about your husbands friend. How horrible. Will be praying for him and his family! So glad you are enjoying the book! xo Heather
So often we don't appreciate our health until we lose it ... sad but true. I hope your husband's friend will heal and that life will soon be comfortable for him again.
Plant-based diet - a very worthy ambition. We are trying to move in that direction, one little change at a time.
Hi Tammy....Very sorry to hear of your husband's friend. Cancer is so dreadful.
I do believe that having an attitude of gratitude is a very good way to live.
Take good care. Susan
Tammy: Cancer is such a horrible disease. I don't think there is a person that is not touched by it in some way. I hope your husbands friend is restored to full health.
Thank you also for the encouraging words about health and faith.
Tina
I find it so sad to hear such stories but am also proud to be part of such a resiliant species who fight and win over adversity.
I think we will see this in the next two weeks in The Paralympic Games.
I wish this youmg man the strength to win too.
Angela.x
Hi Tammy, Liked the title of your post and agree that there is indeed a lot to be thankful for in life. It broke my heart to read about your husband's friend and I pray to God to give him courage.
Love
The health is the most important thing in our lives. Unfortunately when she lost and going the person, everyone should praise God for every day he gives to us and for health that we have!I wish to you and your family to have in all your life health and love !
Olympia
It breaks my heart to hear of young people burdened by terrifying diseases!
I thank God for everything I have been blessed with!
I have so much to be thankful for Tammy. My heart goes out to this young man...
Dearest Tammy,
Indeed, we need to give thanks for the mind and our health! LOVE your longevity statement quoted here! So true.
Today's post I've done about tea and its slimming effects. It doesn't show up on the Blogger sidebar but on NetWorkedBlogs it is showing. You for sure practice this already.
Hugs to you,
Mariette
That is so sad about your husband's friend. I do hope that his treatment will be effective. It's so true that we need to be thankful for every day that we have good health.
I am going to go back and read the article you mentioned. Thanks for the link. I just finished my grocery list and most of it is vegetables. We are leaning more and more toward plant based foods.
You are right, we need to be thankful for even the smallest of things. So sad to hear the story of your husband's friend.
I belive so much in giving thanks too and being thankful. For all small things in life everyday.
And I try to learn more about eating healthy. Just need to practice it too. You are good at it! :)
I bought a book called Anti-Cancer this year and it is very interesting.
Thanks for being a friend and my sympathy for your husbands friend and his family.
Peace!
How sad for your husband's friend. I sure hope he recovers....the side effects from treatment sound nasty, poor thing. My heart hurts when I hear stories like that too.
Thanks for the cabbage salad recipe. It sounds quite delicious!
This post makes me want to get back to my daily Gratitude journal. I would list five things I was grateful for each day....then I started getting lax. I do believe it is important to be grateful each day for even the smallest of things.
Enjoy the rest of your week, Tammy. xo
This is a bad week for hearing about friends of friends, and even a distant relative who have been diagnosed with cancer. My heart goes out to that man having to undergo such drastic treatment - I pray he will recover and have a long life with his family.
Mary X
So sorry about your husband's friend. So young and with kids to car for. He and his family will be in my prayers...so tragic.
Yes, we need to be thankful for our health and do as much as we can to preserve it.
I have that book on my kindle, but have only read the intro. It will be my next book.
I love cabbage and your recipe sounds good and healthy.
This was a good post, and one that makes me thankful for you too.
Wishing your friend a quick and healthy recovery. I try so hard to be grateful for what I have:)
A great post Tammy. Trying to catch up visiting my favs since starting my PRN care giving. Have had 2 clients for short term jobs. That is just what I want. Don't think I will take another for a few days. Guess you are back in school. I offered up a prayer for your hubby's ill friend. Blessings
QMM
A friend gave me that book a few weeks ago. I've slowly been reading through it. I'm SO glad you noticed the different writing style too. I kept puzzling over it and mentioned it to hubby about how different it is, sometimes it seems she leaves out certain articles, maybe sentences are more in list format? I finally concluded it may be because she's Dutch. I grew up in Pennsylvania and some groups in PA speak the way she writes.
Oh, that is so sad...I will pray for that young man. I've never even heard of sinus cancer...I guess cancer can attack any part of your body. I often tell God to take me in exchange for these young people who have families as mine are grown and I do wonder what I'm still doing here sometimes. But obviously I am not privy to the logic or the plan so here I sit.
I write a 2 page journal entry every morning with a written prayer and 10 things I am grateful for. I've done this for almost 20 years...it alligns my spirit first thing in the day before anything or anyone negative can bushwack it! LOL! It also helps to live alone and be retired! LOL! I'll have to get that book as it looks like it something you could read and re-read. I believe in anything and everything that helps to lift us up and keep us alligned with spirit and with each other in love and peace. Have a great school year! The boys too!
Tammy that is such sad news I hope that your husbands friend will be ok. Since my father's news and the recent health scare my mother has had I thank goodness for my good health and indeed to look after it very well without good health you really don't have very much at all. x
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