By: Roy P. Williams and Ali Elizabeth Turner
Merry Christmas, Everyone!
America is the most blessed nation on earth. God has provided us with a country full of resources that has helped us feed our people, and many people around the world. Our form of government has created more freedom than any nation that has ever existed.
Because of the freedoms this nation has fought and died for we can own land, travel, worship however we choose, and ”We The People” have the ability to help maintain our freedoms by voting for the men and women that we believe will support this wonderful way of life.
During this special time of year, let me encourage you to be grateful. In the Bible, we are encouraged to be thankful in all things, to treat others the way you would like to be treated, and to understand that “God’s love never fails.”
Even if you don’t believe in Christ as the Son of God, or if you choose to believe that he was just another man that lived and walked the earth, it might do you good to read about His principles. For a long time, I studied the words in red in an old King James Version of the Bible, and it came clear to me that if everyone lived the way He taught, it would change the world for the good of all mankind. To this day I can find no one that says what Christ taught would cause harm.
During this special time of year, let’s try to find the good in other people. May we strive to be kind and compassionate toward others. One of the main principles of Christ’s ministry is to help those in need. There are so many people, even in a wealthy nation like America, that are hungry, homeless, have lost loved ones, or are lonely for whatever reason. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if everyone decided to help those people? Believe me, when you do that, you will be the one that will be blessed.
At 64 years of age, I can testify that the more people that I help get what they need, the more my needs are met. It is an unwritten, universal law; what you sow you shall surely reap. If you feed the hungry, you will be fed. If you give a drink of water, you will receive a drink of water in return.
So, be thankful, especially this time of year. I challenge you to go out of your way to help others, to put others first, to be kind, and to be grateful or thankful for all the blessings you have in your life.
For me, Christmas is all about being thankful that God loved the world so much that He gave us His only Son, and that everyone who believes in Him will have everlasting life. It is also about family and friends, and sharing all the wonderful ways God has blessed us.
As children, we all learned a song that said, “Santa Claus is coming to town. He knows when you’re sleeping, he knows when you’re awake; he knows when you have been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake.” Yes, we were taught to be excited because Santa Claus was coming to town. For Christmas, let me remind you who we should be excited about: Christ the King, who is coming again.
In the 139th Psalm, David says, “You have looked deep into my heart, Lord, and you know all about me. You know when I am resting or when I am working, and from heaven You discover my thoughts. You notice everything I do and everywhere I go.
Before I even speak a word, you know what I will say, and with Your powerful arm You protect me from every side.” In the 136th Psalm we are reminded over and over again that, “God’s love never fails.”
From all of us at Herbs & More, NHC Herb Shop ad NEWtritional Health Care, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Your friend in health,
Roy P. Williams
As I chatted with Roy about where Herbs & More has been, and where it is “going and growing,” he repeatedly emphasized the importance of helping people as the central value embraced by the entire staff. They have a theme for 2020, and it’s “Human Engineering.” Now, before you think that means something out of the laboratory of a mad scientist, the concept is utilizing beneficial technology that is consistent with how we have been created to offset the negative effects of technology that is either inherently damaging, or is just being misused. “We have gotten disconnected from ourselves, from our brain and our body. For example, we were made to move. If we ignore that and just stay in front of a computer screen all day, our feet go numb because they aren’t being used. We develop “tech neck” from too much smartphone usage, and too much blue screen exposure is not good.
What can help? Three technologies as well as massage, which are all available at Herbs & More. The first is Whole Body Vibration (WBV), which was developed by the Russians as well as NASA to help restore bone density and circulation to the bodies of people who literally had been floating in space too long in the International Space Station. I have personally interviewed people who could not walk before they started using a WBV machine.
The second is the Bio-Electro-Magnetic-Energy-Regulation Mat, (BEMER) which is approved by the FDA and is used by the Swiss Olympic team. Our bodies are wonderfully designed to emit and receive low level electro-magnetic energy, as does the earth, and humans need exposure to the right kind of that energy in order to help cells with circulation, absorption of nutrients, regeneration, and waste disposal. It even helps the body cope with grief, and is incredibly relaxing.
The third is the infra-red sauna, whose light and heat help with de-toxing the body and the mind, helps with anxiety and depression, and improves circulation. And don’t forget the good ol’ fashioned benefits of massage as administered by a highly-trained and experienced massage therapist! Jason Mitchell has helped too many folks in North Alabama to count.
Roy and Gwen Williams have always enjoyed helping entrepreneurs, and in finishing up the interview, I had the joy of chatting with Elizabeth McClary, whose clothing line, Happy Threads, is featured at Herbs & More. Elizabeth came up with the idea of providing high-quality, affordable “spirit wear” when her daughter was having so many “Spirit Days” each year at school. Elizabeth told herself, “I can do this,” and set out to make unique, reasonably-priced, age-appropriate clothing that does NOT use local logos and is not monogrammed. Instead, she gets the “Athens-Is-Amazing message” out through her own designs, and uses sublimation and screen printing for her hats and T-shirts. The Herbs & More/Happy Threads Boutique also carries customizable leggings, tunics, scarves, and sweaters, and is just one more bit of proof that they are here to help during the holidays, and always!
By: Roy P. Williams and Ali Elizabeth Turner