YOUNG HEARTS, OPEN MINDS: JOY!! (Post 182)

March - April 2026

Half the joy of life is in little things taken on the run. Let us run if we must, but let us keep our hearts young and our eyes open that nothing worth our while escapes us.
- Victor Cherbuliez

In January, I introduced the 2026 GRM Blog Posts’ theme: ECLECTIC JOY with its following description. Eclectic Joy points to the multi-faceted nature and depths of joy. Joy contains a mixture – and that dimension we will explore. Throughout the year, I will be sharing such life experiences that have charged deep feelings, brought astonishment - and always, prevented my respective memories never to fade.

Ever-present in March, it’s Girl Scout Cookie Time! I sold boxes and boxes as a girl, my daughter likewise, and my grand-daughters, as well. Many, many years ago, as a fulltime stay-at-home mom (although that term had not been coined yet), I was loading cartons of cookies into station wagons (called vans now, of course) and cars for troop members to sell. Not long after, I began to feel a hitch in my shoulder. The situation seemed minor but as time passed, a pain developed and deepened. This was no stiff neck that gradually gets better. In fact, the pain enveloped the entire shoulder area and pervasively affected just about any movement.

I’d see much older persons walking stiffly and bent and immediately empathized with them. I know how you feel; I know your pain! Never had those thoughts been so personally felt before.

I did go to my doctor and she prescribed medicine for me. Very, very quickly, I developed hives. Back to the doctor’s office again and I was then told to stop taking that medicine – PLUS no other pain medicine including the common over-the-counter products. Oh my! It would be cold turkey time from there on! To say the least, I was miserable. I limited my activities, driving was torture, and a big bed pillow to sit on was my constant companion. How long was this to last? Would the pillow become my BFF (emphasize forever)?

At that time, my husband and I lead the youth ministry at our local church. One of the teens was a family friend and did other activities with us frequently. One time, we attended a lecture by a nationally known speaker and we were quite impressed. When he returned to the area to present again – but an hour’s drive away – our teen friend asked me to go and take her to hear him once more. I hesitated, knowing the long drive but eventually, we decided to go. Of course, my pillow came along too. The sanctuary was filled and the speaker did not disappoint. It was a wondrous message and I was glad we had attended. An invitation was given for those who wanted special prayer by the speaker to come forward. A long line formed and our young friend – looking at my pillow – asked me if I was going to go for prayer. I hesitated facing the long line and a much longer drive home. Still the look on her face was full of anticipation of something special about to happen. How could I say no – her church ministry leader?

I did stand in the line, full of pain, with my pillow. After a long wait, it was my turn to be prayed over. It was a beautiful prayer, the speaker’s saying my name and asking, specifically, for the healing of my pain.

The next morning, I awoke and the pain was still there, roaring as usual. I made plans to call the doctor that afternoon and ask for another appointment. Interestingly, around 11:00, I began to feel something different about my arm where the pain had been radiating down. There was something different but I could not describe it since the pain was still present. It was more like an awareness but I would not have been able to describe it in words.

In another half hour or so, a warmth started at the top of my arm: an internal feeling of warm-ness, not external. Very gradually, this inner warmth continued down to my hands. By 1:00, my entire arm was pain-free. I decided to wait and see how long that pain-free feeling of comfort would last. The afternoon was early; I still had time to call the doctor if the pain returned. It didn’t! The following day, no pain – and the next, and the next, and so on. By Saturday, we were driving to the Lake Erie Islands for several days of camping, bike riding, and sight-seeing … and the pain stayed GONE.

There was such JOY… on multiple levels too! The joy of physical wellness, the joy of regular living with no pain, the joy of Divine healing; and the joy that another person much, much younger than me had the faithful anticipation – and expectation – that a prayer offered to God would replace pain with strength!

Now, some folks may question this story and the miraculous disappearance of my pain. However, over and over, I have read and heard medical and mental health treatment professionals list the causes of and reasons for recovery. Certainly, a good number of factors contribute to recovery. Yet listed, there will be “Natural Causes” … a factor that cannot be pinned down to a specifically man-made/man-caused/man-contributed-to treatment. Don’t get me wrong. This is not a defiance of modern medicine and clinical treatment. I am astounded and wonderfully amazed at what medicines, surgery, clinical counseling, and support organizations/groups can do. JOY in recovery can be found there as well as JOY experienced through Divine intervention and healing.

Keeping an open mind to the process of recovery – in various forms and combinations – can bring joy!

The words of Lord Thomas Dewar close Post 182 accordingly:

Minds are like parachutes. They only function when they are open.

Blessings,

Rev. Janet Jacobs, CCGSO

Founding Director

Gambling Recovery Ministries

https://www.grmumc.org

855-926-0761

For more information on the IPGGC Clergy/Lay Minister Certification visit:

www.IPGGC.org NOTE: new web address!

International Problem Gambling and Gaming Certification Organization