Save a Child's Life

A season filled with unspeakable tragedy and unfortunate accidents both on and off the field finally has a potentially serious story with a very happy ending.
Emmanuel Marlow, a 49-year-old Washington, D.C., native who works as a vendor at Nationals Park and other stadiums in the district, was making his normal rounds Thursday afternoon shortly after the start of a Washington Nationals game when he noticed a commotion in one of his sections.

A young boy had begun choking on his food and those around him were panicking. According to a witness who first reported the heroic act to Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post, when Marlow came upon the scene and saw that no one else had taken charge, he immediately abandoned his vending duties and began performing the Heimlich maneuver.

After two unsuccessful thrusts, Marlow remained calm and cool, and ensured the child's mother he would be all right. On his third attempt, Marlow dislodged a piece of chicken from the child's throat.

"I guess they never had experienced a first-aid situation," said Marlow, who had once worked a game at FedEx Field when a patron had a mild stroke. "[The boy] was actually going to a new color. I knew I needed to jump in and do it. There was no time for hesi­ta­tion. It had to be done right then and there."

After a quick examination at the stadium, the boy was deemed to be OK. His grateful mother went up to Marlow and spent 10 minutes hugging him, crying and thanking him for saving her son's life.
And then, just like that, Marlow went back to work.

"I was just glad I was there and knew what to do and did it; that's the best thing that happened," Marlow told [Steinberg]. "His mother's not grieving over a lost child. That's the most important thing."

It's concerning to hear how long the situation played out before someone — anyone — took charge to help the young child. And it's very scary to consider what the outcome could have been if Marlow had not come along.

I would strongly encourage anyone who has not been trained in performing the Heimlich, CPR and other life-saving procedures to consider taking the small amount of time it requires to either become certified, or simply become familiar enough to be comfortable taking action in a similar emergency.

That's what Marlow did; he once took a free CPR class at a local college, Steinberg writes, because he thought it might come in handy some day. And it might not surprise you to learn that Marlow's "day" job begins at 3 a.m. and involves caring for patients with Parkinson's disease. Marlow says it's just in his nature to help people.

You just never know when a similar situation will play out around you, or even involving someone you love. It's always better to be safe and prepared than to be sorry.
Right now, we're all very thankful Emmanuel Marlow took the time and was prepared to do what was right. That is what makes a hero.

Strong Marriages, Secure Kids

With so many divorces happening in our culture, its not uncommon for children to wonder if divorce is going to attack their home.  The wholesomeness of a great romance and friendship makes your kids feel safe and gives them confidence that their home will be stable and secure.

So, the question is, how can you secure a healthy marriage relationship, for you and your children?

1. Spend time together: families need to prioritize their relationship in such a way that they make time for each other.  Schedule a weekly family date and have "couch time" every day.  Sit down with your spouse, your kids and talk about how their days went.  The kids will see that you place top priority in your relationships with each other.  Children feel secure when they see a team of dad, mom, and them....and they are all committed to each other.
2. Show a united front with your kids: there are many decisions the two of you (husband and wife) will disagree on BUT never verbalize your frustrations, or disagreements in front of your children.  Even if you are the one who gives in, you still win because as a team, you are both deciding to go the same direction.
3. Lead your family in moral authority: When you look at your children and say, "this is the way I want us to live," is that same standard reflected in your own lives (as mom and dad)? Do your children see it lived in your relationship with each other?

Husbands, lead your families by the way you lead your marriage.  Wives, encourage your husband and embrace your role as his helpmate (Eph 5:22-23)

When a husband loves and pursues his wife, a son learns what wholesome love looks like - and he will notice a glaring difference in what the world calls love and stability.  When a daughter observes wholesome, romantic love at home, she's less likely to fall for a guy who tells her she's pretty and says he loves her, just so he can use her.

A solid, thriving marriage relationship builds a culture of trust and confidence that instills values into your children.  They're  more likely to receive your teaching, if they see the benefits in your own marriage.  It also builds security in the hearts of young people and helps them make decisions not out of fear, but in response to the examples their parents show of a wholesome, thriving marriage and family. 

Parents, let's respond to the call to create a culture in our homes that withstands the world.
Proverbs 22:6

Family Builders:

• What are some ways that you can show your children what a strong, secure marriage looks like?
• How many more practical things can you do to make family/relationship time important?

5 Ways to let go of a Grudge

By Sora Song
Forwarded by Lynn

Getting angry is one thing. Holding a bitter grudge is another. Over the long term, chronic feelings of resentment can harm your physical health, according to the authors of a new book, Embitterment.

The influence of negative emotions is so powerful that the authors think there should be a new diagnosis called post-traumatic embitterment disorder, or PTED, for those who can't forgive the people who have wronged them, reports CNN's senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen in her new "Empowered Patient" column.

Like other negative emotions — stress and depression among them — bitterness has physical consequences: high blood pressure, elevated heart rate, increased risk of heart disease. The longer you hold a grudge, the more likely your negative emotions will take a toll on your heart and your health.

"The data that negative mental states cause heart problems is just stupendous," Dr. Charles Raison, associate professor of psychiatry at Emory University School of Medicine, told CNN. "The data is just as established as smoking, and the size of the effect is the same."

Life is nothing if not unjust, however, so we're all apt to feel bitter about something at some point in our lives. The trick is not to let it become a chronic problem.

Cohen offers five tips to keep your anger from festering. I've summed them up, below, but to get a fuller picture, you should read Cohen's column in its entirety on CNN:

• Vent to your spouse about what's bothering you
• Remember that you're not the only person in the world who's ever been wronged
• Consider confronting the person who injured you
• Realize you're only hurting yourself by holding a grudge
• Try to see things from the other person's point of view

Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2011/08/18/5-ways-to-let-go-of-a-grudge/#ixzz1VUbJa1XN