Oprah Winfrey says she recently became a victim of racism “when a shop assistant in Switzerland refused to show her a £24,477 handbag saying it… Read More »Poor business to assume someone can’t afford what you are selling
Contact #SoMoms at [email protected]. Visit our #SoMoms community Using the monicker ““momblogger” was a matter of convenience. I wanted to be called by my first… Read More »Proud member of Mommy Mundo, Social Media Moms Community #SoMoms
Don’t judge me unless you have looked through my eyes, experienced what i have, and cried as many tears as me. Until then back-off, cause you have no idea.
Today Matthew Warren died of suicide. He is the son of Rick and Kay Warren who must be facing the most painful moment in their lives. There is no pain more gut-wrenching than losing a child. My heart and prayers go out to them at this most difficult time.
““No words can express the anguished grief we feel right now,” Warren wrote in a letter to his congregation.
A long time ago, I too lost a son and I found hope and courage in Rick Warren’s The Purpose-driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? . The book inspired me to move beyond the pain of losing a son and work on my new normal. Because the book talks about starting a service, I initiated the The Compassionate Friends Philippines Chapter with the help of Cathy Babao and Alma Miclat.
I can’t be there to hug Rick and Kay Warren for their loss and thanking them too for giving me the courage to live this new normal after the death of my son. What I can do is to continue on with my advocacy on suicide prevention and grief education such as ways to comfort the bereaved.
In most of my meetings with the bereaved, a common complaint is the insensitivity of concerned friends or relatives. I see it also in some of the insensitive tweets addressed to Rick Warren questioning the circumstances of his death. Some may not know what to say and blurt out the wrong words.
I have had my own share. I know the depth of concern they have towards us but in their enthusiasm, they blurt out the most insensitive remarks. Newly bereaved are very sensitive to these remarks.
Many parents feel they were being unjustly judged and criticized by those who could not possibly understand because they have not experienced the loss of a child. Compassionate Friends USA shares the proper response.
Our wonderful, concerned, well-meaning friends don’t know. They can only imagine how the newly bereaved feel. They haven’t personally known (thank God) the disbelief, the shock, the anger of losing a child or any loved one. Instead of bringing relief, those words just seem to add to the hurt and the grief. There are no words that will make it all right that someone we loved has died. But there are ways that can soothe the hurt, ease the loneliness and add to the healing. Recently, my sister visited The Compassionate Friends to get tips on how to comfort a family whose daughter died of suicide.
I’d like to share some of the ways to comfort the bereaved:
My friend is hurting. I cannot take her pain away. I pray she grieves well.
The “Serenity Prayer” is dedicated to all those who are in grief, loss, or broken-hearted, recovering from alcoholism, addiction or some dysfunction.
Not all of you may have a God.
They say we all have a God or God as we understand God.
Read More »The Serenity Prayer is for you
I got diagnosed with Diabetes on June 2000, a month after my beloved son died. It was my desire to have another baby at some point so I underwent a thorough medical checkup. The diagnosis should not have stopped me from having another baby but I felt I needed to have my diabetes under control. Perhaps it was because of my deep sadness over my son’s death that I had no desire to take care of myself. I struggled with my overweight body until there came a time that my blood pressure shot up to 160/90 which seemed so scary. My stress test showed distressing results that the doctor thought I needed Angioplasty. An angiogram revealed no major arteries were blocked. Phew what a relief.
Being diabetic made me take some changes in my life like small frequent meals, exercise, and being careful to about infections.  People like myself are 2x times more likely to develop serious gum problems.
Why?
Well, diabetes makes my body more susceptible to bacterial infection, since there is a decreased ability to fight bacteria that invade the gums. I was not aware of gum problems until my dentist fitted me with my new invisalign dental braces. There was a time my gums became swollen. Just by sheer coincidence, Colgate sent me a two tubes of Colgate Total® Pro-Gum Health toothpaste for me to use. I am glad that I am informed of this special toothpaste that may help a lot of diabetic patients out there.
Good oral health could improve diabetes control
People with diabetes can protect their oral health simply by brushing with a toothpaste specially formulated for gum health. A toothpaste like Colgate Total® Pro-Gum Health toothpaste can help reduce bacteria build-up that cause gingivitis, an early form of gum disease and provides bacteria protection even after brushing.
Those with poorly controlled diabetes increase their risk of gum problems. Periodontitis can also make diabetes control more difficult. This is because inflammation of the gums can reduce the action of insulin, leading to difficulty in controlling blood sugar levels. Researchers believe that there is a two way relationship between periodontitis and diabetes.
Sixteen years ago, on December 22, 1996, Lauren wrote her first journal entry. The word blog was non-existent then. These days, kids as young as… Read More »Moms know best when it comes to kids’s safety
““As far as they are concerned, I can go to heaven but I have to go to jail first.” – Carlos Celdran More photos of… Read More »In solidarity with @carlosceldran & freedom of speech at the La Solidaridad walk
My children mean the world to me. I gave up a career to take care of them, teach them to be good and kind to… Read More »Making a difference today: Support the E.studyante program
I was too complacent during the years I grieved for the loss of my son. I left all the financial burden to my husband. Today,… Read More »Don’t let your money sleep. Grow it with Money Tree.
“The black tapes on our mouths symbolize the lack of freedom of speech when the Cybercrime law gets implement” – Lauren The Cybercrime Prevention Act… Read More »The first day of Cyber Martial Law : I will not be silenced #NoToCybercrimelaw