You Can Hope Again Counselling

If we all just reached out and touched somebody’s hand

what a better world this would be

We would show the best of our humanity

In times like these, I close my eyes, bow my head in prayer

Thinking of all the trouble in the world out there

The threat of nuclear war with North Korea

Terrorism

Soldiers going into harm’s way for the freedoms we enjoy

The growing cases of PTSD among them, first responders

indigenous people, and in our society

Suicides

The waste of the gift of life

A growing acceptance of a lukewarm faith

An increase of hatred based in ignorance

Judging people for their race

The colour of their skin

Their Christianity or whatever religion they are

Attacking people emotionally and physically for their beliefs

Cyber-bullying

Poverty

Unemployment

Disabled people denied career opportunities

Let us be thankful for those who see the disabled are strong

They to our society belong

Those who give them the opportunity for a career

Those who believe the disabled have a place

They are of benefit to the human race

Disease

Despair

Loneliness

Addiction

Abuse

Homelessness

Global warming

The growing disparity between the haves and have nots

This list is only a few of the issues we face

The problems are many

The solutions to them rest with us

But we must not allow them to paralyze us into inaction

They should be the reason we live each day doing what we can

Reaching out to those less fortunate than ourselves

Offering that caring hand up that leads to realistic hope

If we dwell on all the problems we will get overwhelmed

The best thing to do is to focus on even one of them

Do your best to be a voice for the voiceless

Give them the tools to speak for themselves

To advocate for their rights

Times like these need people like you

Willing, dedicated hearts

Smiles from your heart that lighten sadness

Outstretched hands of compassion

Two open hands to wounded lives

Just saying, “Here I am.”

Being available

Being consistent

Being caring

Being real

Doing all this in times like these

Kevin and Karen Osborne are psychotherapists and pastoral counselors. Kevin is going to be a chaplain. He also feels called to be a professor of Psychology specializing in Pastoral Theology. Karen is the Director of a women’s abuse shelter. She enjoys doing cross-stitch while I like writing and singing songs. Karen makes me laugh when she sings the kitty bed-time song saying, “It’s that time. It’s the bestest kitty time of the day!” Kevin enjoys teasing the kitties and making them do kitty dances with music. Their kitty, Catherine, loves it when kitty daddeh sings All Things Bright and Beautiful. Kevin likes doing impressions. He tells children’s stories and helps others with their problems using his hand puppets, Dr. Teddy, who is a therapy teddy bear, and Mike the Moose from Matheson. This is a small town in northern Ontario, Canada, an hour’s drive south of the city of Timmins. Dr. Teddy and Mike the Moose from Matheson are consultants with us in our counselling practice.We are available to assist with worship and preaching to give busy ministers a much-needed break. We offer in-office, and phone counselling to anyone in the world.

Co-author on Mind’s Seat, a Christian inspirational blog