My Stress Manager

Yesterday, I spent break time and lunch reading the February issue of Better Homes and Garden.  I enjoy reading the sections with decorating ideas and recipes.  This issue has an article on “Stress Management” in the Better Health section on page 122.  The article is divided into four parts: “the mind-body guru” by Aggie Casey, “the nutritionist” by Keri Glassman, “the psychologist” by Mary Alvord, and “the fitness pro” by Maria Guerra.   Stress affects the heart and due to stress there are more young women having heart problems.  It is the February issue so the magazine is focusing on things of the “heart.”  Therefore, Better Homes and Garden has suggestions through four experts on “ways to cope with life’s pressures so you can safeguard your heart and your overall health.” 

As I read the article, I found it informative and a repetition of what I’ve read in the past.  The experts suggested relaxing techniques, good nutrition, connecting with people outside of work, hobbies that relaxes, and exercising.  I’ve done them all.  When I was younger, running relaxed me and gave me energy for the rest of the day, and when something stressed me, I would run and run.  It helped.  Another, stress reliever was going out with my love and taking our time over dinner and talking.   Gardening relaxes me and takes my mind away from the stress.  As for nutrition, chocolate, dark chocolate gives my mind and body what it needs.  Well, the nutritionist says to eat healthy.    All though informative, I found that something was missing.

The missing link in the article is the spiritual side of handling stress.  Yes, the article suggests breathing and counting or focusing on mentally creating a square, but this is not focusing on something spiritual.  Way back in October, I had had a stressful day, a stressful week, a stressful month, and felt over whelmed with everything that had to be done in what I felt like a short time.  And, I felt unappreciated and lonely.  These are the days when I just can’t let myself walk into my empty house, because there is no one there.  It was a nice autumn day with the leaves just turning.  There is a bench under a tree in my front yard, a gift from a special couple, and I chose to sit there and breathe.  I closed my eyes and mentally focused on my tense muscles.  I slowly breathed in and slowly let the air out.  I was preparing to pray, but a song came to mind, “I Shall Not Be Moved.”  I loved the way the congregation at Cedar Grove Baptist in Newton, Mississippi sang this song.  The melody and words came to me and I silently sang.   The tension was going away; I prayed and talked to God.  Then, someone, like human voice, was saying something to me.  It was a neighbor with her daughter.  They were asking for something, and we talked and I listened as they told me about how they were looking forward to her husband coming home from Afghanistan.   I needed my time with God and I needed that conversation.  It didn’t have to be about me.  And, this is the missing link in the article on stress and in so many people’s lives, peace and comfort from God.

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord.   For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes, but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.”  Jeremiah 17:7-8