Teresa's Treasures

Earlier in the week, I posted an article called Depression -- four lessons I’ve learned which came from the heart of a 56-year-old woman (me) long removed from "the pit." Today I write a second, coming from the heart of a 29-year-old woman, who back then, was descending into the pit. The picture of me on the left was made on Christmas day when I was in my thirties. The picture on the right was made at my mom and dad's 60th wedding anniversary celebration when I was 54. ~ YES I'M SUFFERING FROM DEPRESSION.  IF I HAD THE WHEREWITHAL, THIS IS WHAT I'D TELL YOU: Don’t tell me to snap-out-of-it. The part of me that’s reason – ABLE is the very part of me that’s sick. You’re dealing with my brain, my mind – my feelings. You can’t fix me like a broken arm or leg. My pain is inward – not visible to the human eye. I am exhausted from doing mental calisthenics you cannot see, on an emotional roller coaster you cannot stop. I am emotionally gutted. I have exper...

I suffer from depression; I have most of my life; it’s nothing I try to hide; I speak freely about it. There are some lessons I’ve learned I have to put into practice every day. I just believe people who suffer from depression sometime suffer in silence when they don’t have to; this is what this article is about. If it just helps one person, it's worth sharing. I live in the present moment. All of life is lived in the present moment. Looking forward brings worry and anxiety. Looking back brings regret and guilt. Stay in the moment. If you’re in the shower BE IN THE SHOWER. Don’t be thinking about paying the bills or cooking supper or being at work. Feel the water, smell the soap, bask in the steam – experience it. If your mind wanders bring it back like a lost puppy; retrieve it. Experience THIS MOMENT. I understand why depression is called frozen rage. Anger and depression go hand-in-hand. If depression is frozen rage then when it “thaws” or “melts” anger is released. It is...

There’s a lot going on where I worship right now that centers around conflict between members. Here’s my own advice for anyone who’s been there and done that, like I have – found herself in conflict with another church member. I have been both the offend – ER and the offend – ED . For the advice I have to offer, it doesn’t matter which side you’re on. I would give this advice to either side. 1) The disagreement is not as important as the manner in which it is handled. 2) Most of the time, the disagreement is not about the disagreement it’s about personalities. 3) If the disagreement is over whether something is a sin or not, then it must be substantiated by scripture. 4) If scripture substantiates it, then it’s a moot issue and has already been dealt with. 5) If scripture is silent, then it must be considered a grey area. 6) Grey areas are grey areas and must not be considered black or white. 7) My opinions about grey areas are determined by my perception which is totally subjective...

I can't remember another Christmas quite like this one. Kelly's parents are celebrating Christmas with David and Kelly at their house and Laura and Clinton are coming home from celebrating Christmas with his parents in Glenco. Needless to say, Phil and I have had a very quiet Christmas at home alone, just the two of us. So glad we love each other. I learned while in the "pit" that silence can be deafening if you don't like yourself. That if it's only you and God you have to listen.....to God..... or be miserable. Likewise with your husband. :) Last night it snowed. My son who's 29 has looked forward to the next white Christmas since he was in Jr. High School. Last night he said he would stay up all night, just sitting by the Christmas tree watching the snow fall at his big picture window. Have you ever heard the snow fall or seen what happens when it does? Silence. Sheer silence. Nothing else sounds quite like it. Job tells us that "God thunders wondr...

We've just returned home from eating supper at David and Kelly's, not Christmas but just a spontaneous supper with our son and his family. On the night just before Santa is to slide down the chimney bringing "all the toys and goodies on his sleigh" Miss Bella, my precious little granddaughter, decides not to take heed to "you better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout I'm telling you why" but to remind her parents and Mammie and Pappaw she's still a three year old. I felt so sorry for David and Kelly trying to be patient with Bella and her tantrums but to no avail trying to make them stop. Kelly tried, David tried, Bella pushed, Kelly tried, David tried and Bella pushed some more. Bella had no idea how much patience her parents were exhibiting. I was amazed and doubted I could have been anywhere near this patient given the same situation. (I imagine David could tell you exactly how patient I would have been.) Anway, Bella was so bad I ...

It’s 6:45 Wednesday morning, the morning after the night the rescue mission began to rescue the 33 trapped miners in Chile. I’ve been watching the CNN broadcast since I awoke at 6:01. The similarity between the rescue in Chile and our rescue as Christians is astounding. I’ve had to stop watching at 6:45 because were I to recount every word that applies, I would never quit writing; the similarities are countless. * Quotations include words spoken directly from the broadcast but are not "exact quotes" spoken by the reporter or those being interviewed . Number One : Reporter: “Here we have the oldest miner, age 63… They were most concerned about him because he has black lung disease.” “And the spirit gives life. The flesh counts for nothing.” The word spirit means breath in the Greek. The breath takes care of the black lung. The Spirit enables us to overcome the darkness. Number Two : To reporter: “What is the view like, so up close, witnessing this historical event?” Reporte...

I knew she was watching me as I sat on the couch waiting for Ashley to cut my hair. I didn't know her but it was quite obvious she thought she knew me. After a few more glances she came over and introduced herself as Jamie Butt. She had been giving instructions about the credit card machine she had just installed at Tanglez, the beauty shop I go to, but found the time to come over and introduce herself. She informed me she was one of the women who had just completed the video series I taped in 2005 called Becoming a Woman of Peace, which she had seen at Freida Avery's house. Freida had told me when she came to pick up the series that she had seen a picture of a tree, in her mind, which she recognized when she saw the same tree on the cover of the workbook, that accompanies the videos, for sale at the Christian Book Store. She told me she knew as soon as she saw it she was supposed to buy it, not even knowing who would come if she decided to have a Bible class in her home. She, ...