Love and Peace

	Dear Friends, I am praying for God's blessing on all who are taking part in the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. I hope that this Conference will help everyone to know, love, and respect the special place of women in God's plan so that they may fulfill this plan in their lives. I do not understand why some people are saying that women and men are exactly the same, and are denying the beautiful differences between men and women. All God's gifts are good, but they are not all the same. As I often say to people who tell me that they would like to serve the poor as I do, "What I can do, you cannot. What you can do, I cannot. But together we can do something beautiful for God." It is just this way with the differences between women and men. God has created each one of us, every human being, for greater things-- to love and to be loved. But why did God make some of us men and others women? Because a woman's love is one image of the love of God, and a man's love is another image of God's love. Both are created to love, but each in a different way. Woman and man complete each other, and together show forth God's love more fully than either can do it alone. That special power of loving that belongs to a woman is seen most clearly when she becomes a mother. Motherhood is the gift of God to women. How grateful we must be to God for this wonderful gift that brings such joy to the whole world, women and men alike! Yet we can destroy this gift of motherhood, especially by the evil of abortion, but also be thinking that other things like jobs or positions are more important than loving, than giving oneself to others. No job, no plans, no possessions, no idea of "freedom" can take the place of love. So anything that destroys God's gift of motherhood destroys His most precious gift to women-- the ability to love as a woman. God told us, "Love your neighbor as yourself." So first I am to love myself rightly, and then to love my neighbor like that. But how can I love myself unless I accept myself as God has made me? Those who deny the beautiful differences between men and women are not accepting themselves as God has made them, and so cannot love the neighbor. They will only bring division, unhappiness, and destruction of peace to the world. For example, as I have often said, abortion is the greatest destroyer of peace in the world today, and those who want to make women and men the same are all in favor of abortion. Instead of death and sorrow, let us bring peace and joy to the world To do this we must beg God for His gift of peace and learn to love and accept each other as brothers and sisters, children of God. We know that the best place for children to learn how to love and to pray is in the family, by seeing the love and prayer of their mother and father. When families are broken or disunited, many children grow up not knowing how to love and pray. A country where many families have been destroyed like this will have many problems. I have often seen, especially in the rich countries, how children turn to drugs or other things to escape feeling unloved and rejected. But when families are strong and united, children can see God's special love in the love of their father and mother and can grow to make their country a loving and prayerful place. The child is God's best gift to the family and needs both mother and father because each one shows God's love in a special way. The family that prays together stays together, and if they stay together they will love one another as God has loved each one of them. And works of love are always works of peace. So let us keep the joy of loving in our hearts and share this joy with all we meet. My prayer for all of the delegates, and for every woman whom the Beijing Conference is trying to help, is that each one may be humble and pure like Mary so as to live in love and peace with one another and make our families and our world something beautiful for God. Let us pray. All for the glory of God and good of souls. God bless you. Mother Teresa, MC

Mother Theresa

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered; Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, People may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be Kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis. it is between you and God; It is never between you and them anyway.

Mother Theresa

Hillary

	Dear Abid, You and I surprised a lot of people tonight! In the days after Iowa, I turned to you and asked you to stand with me. When I needed you most, you came through with flying colors. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you. All the best, Hillary

Sheltering Arms

Sheltering Arms offers a broad array of outpatient physician and therapy services. Physician prescriptions are required for most outpatient clinical services, and most services are covered by insurance. Please browse through the links to the right to learn more about the outpatient programs offered.

No matter what the circumstance, the expert staff in the Sheltering Arms outpatient clinics is dedicated to helping patients find within themselves the Power to Overcome their obstacles.

Sheltering Arms offers two inpatient locations. Sheltering Arms Hospital on the Memorial Regional Medical Center campus in Mechanicsville, and Sheltering Arms Hospital South on the St. Francis Medical Center campus in Midlothian offer a smooth transition from the acute care hospital setting. From the moment patients arrive at Sheltering Arms, they are on their way to recovery and increased independence. The goals of each patient are achived through the coordinated efforts of the patient, his or her family, and the rehabilitation team.

Living with a condition that limits mobility should not result in a lifetime of sitting idle. At Sheltering Arms, we are dedicated to helping people find within themselves the Power to Overcome even the most serious setbacks following illness or injury. This commitment does not end when therapy or physician services are complete. Through our Partner for Life program, we empower people of all abilities to embrace a lifetime of recreation and wellness and we are with them every step of the way. We offer a continuum or services designed to focus on Leisure, Interaction, Fitness and Enjoyment - or LIFE! Partner for Life programs at Sheltering Arms are open to the public and do not require a physician referral.

For more information about any Partner for Life program or service, call us at (804) 764-5275.

Stroke

A stroke is a brain injury that occurs when the flow of fresh, oxygen-filled blood from the heart and lungs to the brain is interrupted either by a blockage or rupture. This starves the brain of its energy source, causing nerve cells to die, which then results in a loss of function in the areas controlled by the affected part of the brain.

Strokes and their effects can be frightening, but Sheltering Arms provides an environment of knowledge and caring. It helps to remember that stroke survivors usually have at least some spontaneous recovery or natural healing and often recover further with rehabilitation.

Because stroke survivors often have complex rehabilitation needs, progress and recovery are different for each individual. At Sheltering Arms, we offer a broad range of services to help stroke survivors and their family members.

Physical therapists help individuals regain muscle strength and flexibility, while occupational therapists work with patients on essential activities, such as grooming, bathing and dressing. Speech-language pathologists evaluate the patients’ abilities to express themselves and understand others, and address swallowing issues when necessary.

Medical psychologists often play an essential role in the rehabilitation process following a stroke, carefully evaluating changes that might have occurred with regard to mental abilities, and assisting with emotional adjustment to the effects of the stroke. Physiatrists, nurses and case managers oversee the rehabilitation process, ensuring coordinated care and making recommendations for next steps following inpatient rehabilitation.

Sheltering Arms also offers a Stroke Support Group for both survivors and their caregivers, which meets on the second Tuesday of every month.

For more information on stroke, visit http://www.stroke.org/.

Bon Secours St. Mary's Hospital.

Amy Raiford, Crystal Holland-Stewart.