Shirley Belk
Bio
Mother, Nana, Sister, Cousin, & Aunt who recently retired. RN (Nursing Instructor) who loves to write stories to heal herself and reflect on all the silver linings she has been blessed with :)
Stories (350)
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Missionaries in America
*What is a Christian Missionary? "A Christian missionary is a person who dedicates his or her life to fulfilling the Great Commission: to preach the Gospel, baptizing and making disciples (Matthew 28:19-20)...When we typically think of missionaries, we tend to imagine individuals or families going to Africa or heading to China or going to an unreached people group in a remote locale." https://www.compellingtruth.org/Christian-missionary.html
By Shirley Belk2 years ago in Psyche
After R.I.P. of 2023
When I think of new beginnings, I first have to put to rest the old man of my life, those patterns and habits that kept me together in the sometimes treacherous days I survived the year before. Some of my patterns and habits are consistently bad and some are occasionally brilliant for repairs of the collateral damage I have accrued. So, along with the facing off of my enemies from within and without, I must make appraisal as to what is valuable for me to retain. So, in my estimation, a new beginning is a difficult task. I don't like being moved or challenged or changed. Do you? Does anyone really?
By Shirley Belk2 years ago in Poets
EEK...I got a Jury Summons
Yesterday I picked my mail up from the box at the corner. Much to my horror, surprise, dismay (definition of "eek" from Oxford Dictionary,) there it was...a summons to appear for jury duty! And not just any jury duty...the grand jury of my parish (what counties are called in Louisiana.) That's the reward you get for things like voting and being an adult. You get a chance to do your civic duty.
By Shirley Belk2 years ago in Criminal
The Bridges We Meet. Top Story - December 2023.
I worked as a Registered Nurse for close to thirty years. Over those years, I cannot begin to enumerate or even remember every patient I had. But there are a few that I will never be able to forget. And I don't want their memory to be forgotten either. Even today, I have a smile on my face or a tear in my eye when I think back on them. You see, even though I was the one that was supposed to help them, they are the ones that impacted me, instead.
By Shirley Belk2 years ago in Journal
Getting to the Heart of the Matter. Content Warning.
I try to stay abreast of the news (local, state, national, and international.) I do this mainly from the headlines I glance over. Anything beyond that, can lead me to depression, anger, and despair. I guess, I believed by just grazing, this would suffice my need for civic duty and keep me from becoming emotionally charged. But...
By Shirley Belk2 years ago in Criminal
Mother Combs, You Asked for It
Okay, then, so here goes, Mother Combs, from your: A Christmas Visit With Mother Combs A Getting to Know me Article 1) I think Christmas is mainly for kids. Don't get me wrong, it's nice when families come together, but when there is no Santa to anticipate or prepare for; the appeal for me, is gone. Honestly, no bah humbug here, though.
By Shirley Belk2 years ago in Wander
Fibromyalgia
Ok, so I've got it. Not that I wanted it. But it explains a lot. And once a medical doctor diagnosed me with it almost two years ago, I could relax a little. At least I knew I wasn't going crazy. And I could stop drinking those Jack Daniels & Coke just to make the pain lessen and to help me sleep. (Anyone who knows me, knows I'm not a big drinker and anything carbonated flares up the old interstitial cystitis that I'm also blessed to have...so I couldn't win.) Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a relatively uncommon and enigmatic disorder characterized by pain in the bladder and pelvic region, typically accompanied by urinary urgency and frequency. Fibromyalgia is a more common disorder, with the prominent symptoms being diffuse musculoskeletal pain and fatigue,... IC patients display diffusely increased peripheral nociception, as is seen in fibromyalgia. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9201654/
By Shirley Belk2 years ago in Longevity
