Author Archives: Becky Hastings

About Becky Hastings

I am a wife, a mom, a grandmother. I am passionate about Jesus and health - the two are intricately woven - and I am passionate about helping others who desire to learn more about both.

Hope in the midst of corruption

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Hope StreetIt is amazing how relevant the words of a man who lived 2000 years ago can seem for today!

Wake up! See what you have become! Woe to you; you’re like a field full of unmarked graves. People walk on the field and have no idea of the corruption that is a few inches beneath their feet. (Jesus, Luke 11, The Voice)

These words of Jesus were addressed to the religious leaders of His day, who also happened to have a great deal of political power.  They remind me a lot of the medical authorities and the power they have over ordinary people. People view medical ‘experts’ as priests and many strictly follow their advice.

Sometimes Christians are offended by criticisms against a medical system or political system they esteem to be the best in the world.  Like the scholar who was sitting with Jesus who made this remark,

Rabbi, if You insult the Pharisees, then You insult us too.

Jesus answered with a rather harsh and game-changing response.  In fact, that was the last invitation he received to a dinner party by a Pharisee or religious leader! This is just part of His response found in Luke 11:

So, religious scholars, judgement will come on you! You’re supposed to be teachers, unlocking the door of knowledge and guiding people through it. But the fact is, you’ve never even passed through the doorway yourselves. You’ve taken the key, left the door locked tight, and stood in the way of everyone who sought entry.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAWhen it comes to knowledge about health – true health – as in how to get healthy, stay healthy, feel good and live well until it is your time to die, the medical profession is not my first go-to source.  Their track record does not boast of the results I want for myself and my loved ones. I have learned a lot from many enlightened medical professionals and have received excellent care from many doctors over the years. However, I have the greatest respect for doctors who do not stay in the confines of their medical training, but through independent research, listening to their patients, and a pursuit of truth, have found keys to health they did not learn in their medical training.  However, there remain many strong voices in the medical and pharmaceutical professions who seem unconcerned about true health and, like the Pharisees Jesus harshly criticized, have not figured it out for themselves, and have wanted to take the key away from anyone else who wants to find the truth.

Be that as it may, I have hope.  Like Paul, and the early followers of Jesus, I have hope because that is exactly what Jesus came to give us.

The hope I have is rooted in the promises of God. It was predicted that Jesus would suffer, but He would rise from the dead, so that through Him everyone could have hope and light to live by.

So, in a crazy world that seems to keep going crazier, I continue to find my daily hope as I seek to grasp more of

God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ Himself. In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Paul, Colossians 2)

The rules and medical recommendations pushed on us by the world system/culture/government

are merely human teaching.  They may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial [so-called ‘herd immunity’ proponents?] and severe bodily discipline [ask any parent with an autistic child what is required]

but [these rules] provide no help in conquering our basic problems. (Paul, Colossians 2)

The human condition is complex.  But one basic fact has been evident from the beginning of time – man’s desire for more (greed) and his desire for esteem (pride).  These desires are the root of much of the corruption in the current medical system and the ‘science’ that they like to say supports everything they do.  Of course, the patients have to share in the blame because we like quick easy fixes to solve our problems or alleviate our symptoms. The combination of our desire to avoid suffering, the machinery of greed, and a system of hierarchy and control by ‘experts’ has become the foundation of an enormous industry which brings extreme rewards to a few and great suffering to many.

Unfortunately the losers don’t really understand how many ways they are losing and how to get out of this win-lose situation.

sunriseI cling to Jesus and the hope He provides and seek to share truth and help the innocents who suffer.  Jesus said we need to petition God with brash persistence.  He loves us. He wants to open our eyes, reveal Himself to us and relieve us of our suffering so that we can help others.

What are you petitioning the God of the universe for?  Where is your hope? What do you know about Jesus?

No Guarantees

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handsIn parenting there are no guarantees.  Most parents are filled with awe at the prospect of being responsible for a new life and try and do everything ‘right’.  Some research like crazy, others take opinion polls from their friends or rely on the accumulated wisdom they’ve gleaned over the years.  They know in their heart – they will never be ‘that’ parent – the one in their memory who was sooooo obviously wrong.

Our attempts to be the perfect parent are often interesting for others to watch!  Usually we are unaware of how we appear.

Some parents rely heavily on whatever their doctor, or midwife, or best friend advises.  They might read a book claiming to have all the answers to how to make sure your baby is healthy, sleeps through the night from an early age, and is the brightest baby on the block. We set our sights on the ‘true path to parenting perfection’ completely unaware that there is no perfect method, and anyone who claims to have it, is either delusional or lying.

All parents want the best for their baby – those that learn about the increased toxic exposure children face today and carefully avoid all heavy metals, including fish, medication and vaccinations AND those who fear their child might unnecessarily experience suffering through a ‘vaccine preventable disease’ so they make sure they fully vaccinate themselves, their baby, and anyone coming into contact with the baby.

Happy Grandparents June 13I have been at this job of parenting for over 31 years.  My husband and I have been blessed with five amazing children, two daughters in love and three wonderful grandchildren.  The bottom line is that anything good we have done with our children has been through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and that His mercy is enough for most of our mistakes.

In the end we have to seek to follow Him with all our heart, mind and soul and seek the wisdom He wants to give us on a daily basis.  We can have absolute confidence that He does not want to leave us in the dark, but loves us absolutely and wants to reveal His truths to us.

Choose faith over fear.  Parent out of your faith and confidence that God created your child in your womb and can give your body the ability to grow a healthy child – even if you decline to get an early photo!  Make your parenting decisions based on faith in the immune system God designed.  Never make a decision out of fear.  Pray and ask to be led to the information you need to make a wise choice.

Read both sides of any discussion.  Don’t be afraid to explore what the best of the best has to say to support their claims.  Read every word of any medication’s package insert before administering it to your child.  Don’t give anything just because a doctor or a pharmacist says its safe.  Empower yourself with knowledge. When in doubt wait and pray. The more information you have in advance the easier it will be to make decisions.

But in the end, follow your heart of faith in a God who loves you – don’t follow fear.  Life is not perfect.  Even if you take every possible precaution you can still end up with a situation you did not plan or desire.  Continue to choose faith.  Faith that God can work all things for our good as we love Him and follow His call on our life.

Sometimes we learn the best lessons through the biggest difficulties.  No one wakes up and orders challenges and difficulties for breakfast, but sometimes as parents we find they show up on our plate.  We can respond with faith and seek the strength and grace Jesus wants to imbibe in us.

How has God turned your greatest challenges into triumphs? Let me know in the comments below.  Your story can inspire others.

 

 

Scientific Ideas

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DSC_0075I came across this quote from a book written in 1972 describing a situation in the 1940s, but it rings just as true, if not more, today:

Yet the established virologists still clung to the idea that polio was a disease of the nervous system only, pointing out that to find actual polio virus in the blood of polio victims was a very rare thing. The tenacity of the old-liners was understandable. It was hard to part with ideas that had been companions for as long as half a century. Aaron E. Klein, Trial By Fury

Scientists generally have a hard time getting their mind around a new way of looking at things.   Funding plays a role, but even the wiring of their brains has been to follow certain types of logical sequences, so that when a new idea is presented, their brain automatically kicks it out.  Many times people get angry at these scientists and can accuse them of all sorts of evil motivation.  I’m not saying there is no greed or corruption in science, but when we start to understand the huge mental shift a scientist must embrace to accept a new way of thinking about a subject he is well versed in, we might find better and faster ways of helping them see and accept the truth.

When we strongly attack a closely held opinion held by someone who perceives themselves to be an expert, we can cause them to hold even more tightly – no matter how illogical that position seems to be.

Attacking someone rarely works in getting them to change their mind-set.  How can we help parents, doctors, educators, policy makers and government officials learn the truth and change their ideas, especially in areas that could be causing severe harm to our children and our health?

1:68 demands we figure this out.

Exercise Boosts your Brain!

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brainEveryone can find some sort of exercise they enjoy doing!  If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking.  There is some way for you to move your body and enjoy it – and it is really really important for your brain that you do so!

How Exercise helps brain short

from talk by Dr John Bergman

I don’t know about you – but I don’t want my brain to shrink as I get older!  So, everywhere I go, I think about having time and ways to move.  I might look odd now, but it will save me from being very odd later!  Some ways I move:

  • when standing in a line: balance on one leg, do toe-rises
  • dance whenever I can!
  • park further away from the entrance to where I am going.
  • Stand at my counter-height desk to work, and keep moving!
  • instead of meeting friends for a meal or coffee, asking them to meet for a walk.
  • look for opportunities to do pull-ups or walk on walls!
  • got roller blades for Mother’s Day!
  • decide that exercise is fun, so I skip, hop or gallop! Running is boring.
  • go up and down stairs when there are no mountains to climb!

What do you do to keep your brain growing while you are growing older?  What is your biggest obstacle to regular exercise?

 

What’s a parent to do?

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IMG_0517Parenting is more difficult than ever before.  Parents now have access to more information than any previous generation.  However, so much of the information is contradictory it can leave a brand new parent bewildered and confused and result in even more self-doubt than ever.  Parents have always suffered from self-doubt, but the current array of strong opinions on so many different parenting subjects, can actually undermine a new parent, cause them to question themselves continuously, and even interfere with the natural bonding process.

So, what’s a parent to do?

  • Find information that strengthens you and leaves you feeling excited and invigorated about this journey of parenthood.
  • Listen to your heart.
  • Question everything.  Feel free to question me, disagree with me, find your own answers.
  • Never operate out of fear.  Our fears can be about what other people might think, fear of not being the ‘perfect parent,’ fear of exposing our child to some perceived danger, etc.
  • Never operate out of pride.  Our pride in our accomplishment as a parent can cause us to push our children or try to mold them into something we can brag about.  This is not a healthy response to the uniqueness of our children.
  • Take time to refresh and boost yourself.  Give yourself permission.  At first, when your baby is small it might be just setting aside 20 minutes a day and talking a walk while wearing your baby.  There might be a million things in your home crying out for your attention, but taking that walk is probably what your brain and body need. As your baby gets older and is able to happily stay for a short time with a loving care-giver, use the time to truly refresh yourself.  Exercise is usually better than shopping.  Just saying.
  • Find wisdom from parents who have a relationship with their older children which you admire.

For me, personally, I find incredible insight and wisdom from reading regularly through the Bible.  The first four books of the New Testament provide eye-witness accounts of the life of Jesus, his teachings and his example of sacrifice.  The rest of the ancient documents making up the New Testament were written by the original followers of Jesus explaining how to put Jesus’ life and teaching into practice. Living with a knowledge of God’s love for me motivates and inspires me to love my children beyond my own ability.

Jesus loved children.  He was upset that people would mistreat children, or even that they would try and keep children away from him.  He wanted to interact with them.  He healed many children from dreadful physical illnesses. He loved their childlike faith.  He even said His followers needed to become more like children. He summed up the entire law in a very simple statement: love God with all your heart mind and soul, and love others as you love yourself.  If we remember to love our children and put their needs on the same level as our own, we will be the best parent our child could hope to have.

Most homes have too many rules.  If we simplify to just respect ourselves and respect others, most of the other issues will be resolved. Parenting is a long-term commitment.  You don’t need to be perfect.  Let go of even hoping to be perfect. Allow yourself to learn through your mistakes and understand what you are aiming for. Taking a longer term perspective will help you weather the bumps you will face.  No parenting journey is without them!

What do you hope your relationship with your child will be like when they are 30 years old?  When they are a parent?

 

 

Bullies

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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAWe all see a lot on the subject of bullies and bullying.  There are billboards, advertisements, stories, even curricula for school children covering the topic of bullying.  Bullying is real and we need to teach our children effective ways of handling bullies. But in the midst of all this bully education, it seems almost too obvious to mention:

Corporate bullies are perhaps the worst kind of bullies.

I’m certainly no expert on corporations, but it seems that many that are involved in very questionable practises are able to hold great power over people.  As someone who has lived outside the USA for over 30 years and recently returned to live in the USA, it seems that Americans in general have become immune to corporate bullies.

The toxification of the environment by industrial and commercial activity has been a fact of modern life for decades. But this plague of pollution is so insidious, like the slowly heating pot of water that boils the unsuspecting frog, that its true dimensions have crept up on us largely unheeded.  So has its impact on the health of our children.

 

Poisoned Profits: The Toxic Assault on Our Children,  Philip Shabecoff and Alice Shabecoff

In the rest of the book the authors painstakingly document how our environment is being degraded and the health of our children is being put at risk all in the name of profit.  Dangerous environmental pollution is happening in many areas of our country with reckless abandon.  Many of the offending institutions are revered in their communities because of the jobs they create and the benefits they may bring, yet they neglect to implement basic safety practices and their toxic presence can result in serious birth defects and illness to children.  Most of the offenders are not held accountable and are actually rewarded through increased profit margins and higher salaries for executives. They are powerful and have enough money to buy whatever they need – including scientific studies proving their points – for their success.

Robyn O’Brien describes her awakening to discover the truth about the toxic impact of American food, government, and culture in her book, The Unhealthy Truth. She reveals the alarming decision-making process that enables harmful additives, many of which are banned in other countries, to be included in the United States food supply.  Her book is a personal account in which she shares her daughter’s severe allergic reaction to what she thought was just ‘normal food’.  She thought she was safe in shopping in her local grocery store and feeding her children the food she found readily available on the shelves.  As she began her research into the relationship between the manipulation of our food and the increase in diseases in our children, Robyn O’Brien experienced personal attacks from these same corporate bullies.

Some notable corporate bullies habitually attack those who oppose them.  One large offender spends millions on bringing honest farmers to court simply because their continued differing farming practice is not agreeable to them.

Corporate Bullies.  What are we going to do about it?

 

Trail Blazer

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trailDear Mrs Gianelloni,

I share much of your heart and passion for Jesus, motherhood and health.  I also share your seemingly insatiable desire to know the truth and share it with others.  Thanks for leading the way in such an exemplary manner.  You inspire so many people and we all gain wisdom and confidence through your writing and thinking. I especially loved your recent blog written to the bullies.

As I was reading Ephesians chapter 3 this morning, I thought of you and wanted to encourage you in your passion and mission:

It is God’s purpose to use us as instruments to display His wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.  

Thank you for being an instrument of God in our world.

Because of Christ and our faith in Him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence. So please don’t lose heart because of [any] trials [you might face] here.

I pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth, that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit… 

Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

You have been at this for a long time and maybe you don’t get discouraged, but I wanted you to know that there is an army of people who are right with you.  Sometimes I get a bit discouraged when I see the current state of the world: toxic environmental pollution, GMO food, roundup in our bodies, vaccine injuries and deniers, rampant auto-immune illness and cancer in young and old, Alzheimer’s, chem-trails, human trafficking – did I cover everything?  Oh yeah, and missing jumbo jets, corrupt politicians and the trillion dollar debt we will leave for our children’s children’s children.

So in the midst of all the craziness of our modern world I check-in daily with my Creator through the Bible and find hope, comfort and direction. I believe the power of God as seen in the life and resurrection of Jesus is truly our only hope.  God wants to give everyone the opportunity to re-think their lives, turn to God and gain a new life (Paul, 60 AD).

Again, thanks for blazing this trail and being an instrument of God in our world, a tool to bring justice to the oppressed, and a light shining to those who are in darkness. You are a great inspiration and encouragement!

 

Let’s Talk

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Let's TalkI must confess I have not always felt so free to share this information. I know a lot of people hold contrary views. However, as I’ve researched, read and discussed this issue ad nauseam (ask my family) I truly believe everyone needs to think through the current state of our children’s health and ask ‘WHY?’

Why are there so many kids with peanut allergies, learning difficulties, auto-immune disorders, obesity, neurological issues?  Sure, the issue is multifaceted.  There are environmental toxins at levels the world has never known before, and we all know the food we eat is not what it should be.  However, just because there are many issues contributing to this debate, does not negate the fact that we need to take a very long and careful look at giving our children vaccines – or any other medication they might get a prescription for.  God did not intend for His children, especially the smallest most helpless ones, to suffer so much.

Please research carefully before you make this decision.  Don’t allow anyone to bully you into a decision.  Check out both sides.  Read the package inserts and the ingredient list of EVERYTHING.  Don’t let fear push you to do something.  Vaccines can always be given later, but they can never be taken back and sometimes the injury can last for life.

 

The Good News: This Autism Therapy is Free…And Good For the Whole Family

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Guest Post by The Thinking Moms Revolution whose book and writings have contributed hugely to the awareness of the reality of autism and the possibilities for full recovery.  I am so glad they found each other and that they have joined together to write so that they can extend their blessing far and wide. I have been blessed many times over by their struggles. This piece is really for all parents and helps us to understand the power of our role in our children’s lives.

Posted on March 18, 2014 by Thinking Moms’ Revolution

Luv BugMoments that bring me to my knees, I love them.  Well, I should clarify. I love the ones that bring me to my knees with gratitude – like that guy bursting out of the sewer pipe in Shawshank Redemption, glad to be alive. That is good stuff.  But when you are a parent of a kid with challenges – be it social, academic, physical, or all challenges rolled into one – it can be something like noticing a bug on the sidewalk and stepping on it that channels that inner Shawshank. “YESsssssssss – he noticed a BUG. Damn straight, my man – high five! OH, SNAP – he stepped on it!!! How APPROPRIATE was that?!?!”

You KNOW you know what I’m talking about.

There are also those milestones that everyone would agree are definitely fall-to-your-knees worthy. Learning to walk (at any age), talking (again at any age), peeing and pooping in the potty, staying dry through the night, etc. My latest “on my knees” moment was brought to me courtesy of the YMCA. We have a network of awesome YMCAs around us, and my son LOVES the indoor rock-climbing walls. He’s tried all the rock walls at all the YMCAs that are nearby. He has a body size that is not ideal for rock climbing. His low muscle strength, poor motor planning and general inability to focus provide additional challenges. But about a year after he discovered indoor rock climbing – he got to the top!

rockclimbing2

It was so sweet because it was something typical. And kid-like. And just about age appropriate. We weren’t congratulating him for regaining his composure after a cherished plan was cancelled, or celebrating his first words four years after he lost the ability to speak. This was different. And he was SO PROUD. SO. PROUD. The really sweet thing to me was the reminder to NOT GIVE UP. I didn’t realize it, but I had been going through the motions while taking him to the different rock-climbing facilities during the past year. I didn’t realize that, in my head, I had written it off as something it would be unlikely that he could accomplish.

Then one night, when he was particularly down about not making progress on the wall, he asked, “When will I get to the top?” It hit me that he had a goal of making it to the top, and he said “WHEN,” not “IF.” He had a goal, and he believed he would reach it; it was just a matter of when.

So then it hit me, this child of mine senses when I’m in a crappy mood when he gets home from school. He looks at me more, tells me he loves me and actually starts having a bad day. Just because he is catching my snarky need-more-sleep/coffee/yoga vibe. So if he’s picking up on that so easily, what’s he picking up when I “go through the motions” at the YMCA climbing wall?

So I said to him – answering the question as to WHEN he’d be getting to the top – “Probably this summer. It will take some work, and you might feel frustrated sometimes, but you will get to the top this summer.” Shit. What did I just do? Promise something I can’t deliver?

Around the same time, an awesome a local friend showed me some cool sensory integration techniques for a separate issue my son was having. I started with the easiest techniques that focused on fingers and arms and did them at bedtime a couple times a week, but not regularly.  So when my son scooted up that rock wall, and I thought ‘What the heck has changed that this is now possible?’ I thought immediately of the sensory integration therapy. Of course, that had to be it.

Then I saw this:

hateLoveRice

Dr.  Masaru Emoto has done experiments exploring the power of thoughts on the physical world. This image is from someone recreating his Rice Experiment. He filled three glass jars with rice, covered with water. Jar A he said “thank you” to everyday. Jar B he said “you idiot” to everyday.  Jar C he simply ignored. After thirty days Jar A was fermenting nicely. Jar B was black. Jar C was rotting. This image is a simplified version where one jar is labeled “love” and sent loving thoughts and words. The second jar is labeled “hate” and sent hateful thoughts and words. You can see the results. Several people I know have tried this experiment at home with similar results.

Between the rice experiment and my children’s negative behavior when I am off, I couldn’t help but wonder about the power of my mental shift about the rock wall.

So . . . I guess that this is my thought for today.

change your thoughts

I know, I know, sometimes your thoughts are your only refuge. But lately, I see my less-than-positive thoughts as my prison. The more “negative” I fill my head with, the more “negative” that is drawn into my physical world. But simple shifts in my thinking – recognizing negative self-talk, obstacles I create, expectations of failure – have created corrections to my path. And now, my son’s path. Perhaps my daughter’s path.opportunities

No sugar coating here: it requires a goodly amount of attention to your thoughts (okay, constant attention). And at first it feels fake (“I’m grateful I have food to cook, again, for my constantly hungry family who don’t show an ounce of appreciation”), but just like everything that takes practice, it becomes part of your routine, and then very, very authentic (“I’m so grateful for our warm home and a toilet that flushes”).

I initially believed that I could not control what popped into my head. Over time, what I’ve found is that your thought process is a habit as much as anything else. Of course, when you stub your toe, you’re going to think “Ouch – dang it,” but you don’t need to go into the worm hole of “Again? Another crappy thing? Why today? I need today to be good!!” And when you do start slipping into that worm hole, if you are paying attention, you can stop yourself and say, “That hurt.  Let’s carry on with my bruised, yet unbroken toe.”  When it comes down to it, I’ve spent most of my life trying to control my outside environment. Which means trying to control other people, events beyond my control. What I haven’t realized is that the thing that could make the most difference in my life is the one thing I can control: my thoughts.

~ LuvBug