Health Meditations

Old Wives' Tales

Old wives' tales are stories which are passed down from generation to generation. The term "old wives' tale" comes from the idea that older women are often wiser because of their life experiences. Many cultures look up to elders of their community, especially when it comes to information about life issues. And in some societies, older women offer healing services and general advice to the community.

Some old wives' tales are examples of harmless ignorance. But some old wives' tales are dangerous because they can lead you to make poor choices. So always find out the truth.

Here are eleven old wives tales:

1. Every normal female has a girl ovary and a boy ovary.
2. In every normal male, one testicle produces sperm that make boy babies and the other testicle produces sperm that make girl babies.
3. A woman cannot get pregnant if she has sex with a man while standing up.
4. A woman cannot get pregnant the first time she has sex.
5. A man cannot get a woman pregnant if he pulls his penis out of the woman's vagina before he ejaculates.
6. You can tell by looking at someone if they have a sexually transmitted infection.
7. You will always know if you have a sexually transmitted infection.
8. You cannot get a sexually transmitted infection from oral sex.
9. A woman who has never had sex is not a virgin if she uses tampons.
10. A woman will not get pregnant if she showers or douches immediately after intercourse.
11. Once a male has an erection, he must have intercourse, or he can be harmed by not ejaculating sperm.

Each of these eleven statements is completely untrue.  Unfortunately, these absurd notions are circulated among both adults and adolescents.  If you encounter anyone spreading this misinformation, make sure they have the truth.

John 8:32
And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

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Deborah White, MD, MBA

Toxic Invitation: The Poison of a Pity Party

Event
A person intent on proclaiming "Woe is me!" cordially invites you to hear a tale of woe.

The hostess (A pity party is usually hosted by a woman.) will expect you to be suitably distressed by her situation.  Pity party etiquette requires the ideal guest to engage in hand wringing and sympathetic head nodding as the hostess describes how she is the victim of untoward circumstances.  However, if you listen carefully to her sad saga, you will note that the hostess is the architect of her drama because:

• She doesn't know how to say "No.  My plate is full.  I cannot take on another project right now."

• She is too prideful to ask for help.  Asking for help would be like confessing that she has taken on more than any one person can possibly do and that she is subject to the same space-time continuum limitations as every other human.
• She has unrealistic expectations and doesn't have the patience to persevere through a process.
• She would rather bemoan the worst case scenario than engage in problem solving or strategic planning.
• She is full of false humility.  How can she possibly ask for help when there are other people far worse off than she, e.g., homeless, unemployed, starving?

Location:
Wherever the hostess can corner you to bend your ear about her pitiful plight

Time:
Whenever the hostess can get your undivided attention; be prepared for the tale of woe to go on ad nauseum.

RSVP
Please note that this noxious encounter will try your patience and drain your energy.  So, if you receive an invitation to a pity party, RSVP with potential solutions, and regrets that you cannot attend.

Share the health.

Deborah White, MD, MBA

Fatherhood

Creator
Father God is the first person of the Trinity.
Father God is the Creator of heaven, earth and the entire universe.
Father God, our heavenly Father, created your spirit and mine (whether you believe in Him or not).  Father God created the body within which your spirit dwells.
Father God knows you better than you know yourself.

Isaiah 44:24
Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer,
And He who formed you from the womb:
"I am the LORD, who makes all things,
Who stretches out the heavens all alone,
Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself;

Jeremiah 1:5
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;
Before you were born I sanctified you;
I ordained you a prophet to the nations."

God is not your Father just because He created you.  He is only your Father if you have received the Spirit of adoption.

Romans 8:14-17
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

Galatians 4:4-6
4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!"

Ephesians 1:3-6
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

Procreator
A father is a male person whose sperm unites with an egg, resulting in the conception of a child.  A man who procreates has the role of paternity for a child.  But the determination of paternity merely identifies a sperm donor.  There is more to being a father than generating offspring.

Responsible Man
A true earthly father is a man who takes responsibility for raising and nurturing a child.  A true earthly father steps up to let a child see the Jesus in him, regardless of whether he shares DNA with that child.

Honor all the fathers in your life, especially Father God.

Happy Father's Day!

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Deborah White, MD, MBA

The Best of Never

Never means not ever, on no occasion; at no time; not at all; in no way; absolutely not; certainly not; by no means; in no case; under no circumstances.

Never describes some of the best that God has for you.

Psalm 55:22
Cast your burden on the LORD,
And He shall sustain you;
He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

Proverbs 10:30
The righteous will never be removed,
But the wicked will not inhabit the earth.

John 4:13-14
13 Jesus answered and said to her, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

John 6:35
And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.

John 8:51
Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.”

John 10:27-28
27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.

1 Corinthians 13:8
Love never fails...

Hebrews 13:5
Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

When you have a relationship with God, you can enjoy the best of never.

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Deborah White, MD, MBA

Always

Consider the concept of always. 

Always means at all times, without exception, without interruption, continually, consistently and constantly. 

Now consider your daily encounter with always.

The sun is always shining, whether you see it or not.

The sun is always rising, somewhere.
The sun is always setting, somewhere.

It is always morning, somewhere.
It is always afternoon, somewhere.
It is always night, somewhere.

The moon is always fully present, whether you see a full moon or not.

During the day, the sky is always blue, whether or not you can see it.
At night, the sky is always filled with stars, whether or not you can see them.

God has always existed, whether or not you believe He exists.
God will always exist, whether or not you believe He exists.
God is always with you, whether or not you believe He exists.

Matthew 28:19-20
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

God always deserves praise, worship and thanksgiving.

Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

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Deborah White, MD, MBA