CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL

Chicken soup is purported to be a remedy for any illness, giving strength for recovery. Healing is something we need, not just for our bodies but also for our souls. That’s why there is a whole series of books with the title "Chicken Soup for the Soul". This was the motto under which the Mid-Rhine Conference Women’s Ministries Department had planned a weekend retreat with Gabi Stangl from November 6-8, which unfortunately had to be canceled due to the intensified Covid-19 measure. It was not abandoned, however, as Daniela Canedo, WM director for the conference invited the registered participants to a virtual weekend and sent them a surprise package of vegetable broth (instead of chicken soup) to comfort them. The invitation was then extended to all interested women, so that it was possible for everyone to participate in this meeting from home. I had not participated in a women's weekend for a long time, so I was especially happy to experience this format.
In her first topic on Friday evening Gabi Stangl, who is a pastor in Berlin and director of the Women's Ministries department in the Mid-German Conference, spoke about changes. Gabi told the story of Azie Taylor Morton, who said, "Nothing has to stay the way it is if you don't like it. As a child Azie worked in the cotton fields in Texas. School attendance and studies were not easily accessible to black people, but she asserted herself. Under Jimmy Carter, she was appointed Treasurer of the United States. She had changed her life - because nothing has to stay the way it is if you don't like it.
God wants to encourage us by saying "Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you," (Isaiah 43:4NIV). Gabi asked the question, "What do I want to change in my life? And then we have to let go and start again. Chancellor Angela Merkel says, "Changes start in the head“. We can choose to have good thoughts. Injuries leave scars, but with time we can look at the scars without feeling the acute pain. The quote from Mother Teresa made us smile: "I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much“. With God's help we can manage change, as the Bible says: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you" (Matthew 6:33).
On Sabbath morning the women came together again virtually to celebrate worship. In the sermon Gabi‘s topic was "A life you can live: you have it in your hand". By our attitude we can influence our well-being and decide to be happy. Everything depends on the perspective. We cannot control everything that happens to us, but we can control how we react to things. We should not worry so much about what others think of us. We can safely leave that behind, there is still so much room there! We don't have to set our standards by others. Let us follow our path with God and he will bless us.
The retreat was not over yet. In the afternoon there was a time of fellowship when the women share their thoughts, almost like at a normal Tea Time. However, they had to provide their own tea and cake, which was no problem for the women.
In her third topic Gabi Stangl spoke about the fact that we are not here to endure life, but to master it. This includes going through our "house of life" and letting God clean up in it.
It was a successful meeting in which Gabi opened her heart and through her openness encouraged the participants to accept themselves and let God make changes.