Is Health and Wellbeing the Most Important Thing?

Is Health and wellbeing the most important thing? The discussion continues

Sandra Sutherland, CVE Scotland Trustee, writes…

In a recently added resource article we brought a newsletter from Education Scotland to your attention: Scotland Learns: Parents and Carers Newsletter.

Megan Patterson, Vice Chair of CVE Scotland, wrote a thought-provoking piece based on one aspect of the Education Scotland newsletter in which it was stated that “The health and wellbeing of your family is the most important thing.”

Megan went on to write: “I am glad that Education Scotland considers none of these to be the most important thing. But would I agree that the health and wellbeing of my family is the most important thing? No. Ask the Christian mother of a sick child: What in your view is the most important thing for your family? She will say:

‘In our family what matters most is knowing King Jesus. We love Him and want to know and love Him more. His glory and honour matter even more to us than our health and comfort. We know there are a lot of suffering people in the world. Our family is learning how to honour the King through our tears. The most important thing isn’t our health and wellbeing, but it is knowing Jesus’. “(1)

Megan’s article certainly got me thinking: What do I as a teacher and Christian think is Health and Wellbeing? I immediately thought of two things:

Firstly, Jesus’ statement in John chapter 10 “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full”. (2)

Secondly, I thought of Joni Eareckson Tada (please see footnote 3) and Heidi Crowter. Joni was one of my inspirational people as I grew up in the 1970s. Heidi Crowter is a disability rights campaigner who is challenging the UK’s abortion laws. (This is not an article about the rights and wrongs of Abortion legislation, rather I am focusing on what someone with a disability can achieve.) Heidi has Down’s Syndrome.

Anyone who knows Joni’s story and now Heidi’s story, cannot doubt that both live full lives; indeed, they have wellbeing.

So how do we define wellbeing? The World Health Organization defines mental health as “Mental health is not just the absence of mental disorder. It is defined as a state of wellbeing in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community. (4)

How do we achieve our potential?

How do we as Christian teachers, parents/carers, school staff, chaplains and volunteers share the good news that life with Jesus is “wellbeing”/ life to the full?

How are we responding as a Christian community within Scotland to support our children and young people during this pandemic?

• Churches across the land are involved with foodbanks – providing the basics for living.
• The church is supporting the spiritual life of our young people; locally and nationally.
• SU Scotland reported “In recent weeks, some events directly ministering to young people have moved online. Equip! online is drawing young people together on Friday nights; SU Group resources have been published on our website; SUTV.org launched at Easter and has drawn 10,000+ views so far; 75-100 young people are meeting in Connect Groups!” (5)
• Locally, churches are developing online resources to support young people. I have already seen a church in Aberdeen “advertising” their summer club as a virtual club.

Megan wrote in her resource article, “The most important thing ….. it is knowing Jesus”. (1) and then we can truly say “It is well with my soul”. (6)

As Christians, we want our children and young people to know Jesus and to “have life to the full”. In the current circumstances, in which we live, we thank God, our Father, for the abilities that He has given us to be able to support our children and young people in all manner of ways; new and old.

1. Education Scotland: News for Parents and/or Carers
2. John chapter 10 verse 10b
3. A diving accident in 1967 left Joni Eareckson Tada a quadriplegic in a wheelchair. Today, she is an internationally known mouth artist, a talented vocalist, a radio host, an author of 17 books and an advocate for disabled persons worldwide. www.joniearecksontadastory.com (accessed 16.06.20)
4. https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/your-stories/what-is-mental-health-and-mental-   wellbeing/  (accessed 16.06.20)
5. SU email to supporters; 14.06.20
6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It_Is_Well_with_My_Soul  (accessed 18.06.20)