Missionary to the Philippines and Social Worker with Children’s Aid Society
How I Triumphed Over Multiple Traumas With A Smile On My Face, Sparkle In My Eyes, Sping In My Steps And Song On My Lips
Copyright ©2017 Ernie Nullmeyer
All rights reserved
Printed in Canada
ISBN 978-1-927355-21-3 Soft Cover
ISBN 978-1-927355-95-4 E-book
Published by: Castle Quay Books
Tel: (416) 573-3249
E-mail: [email protected] | www.castlequaybooks.com
Book design by Burst Impressions
Printed at Essence Publishing, Belleville
All rights reserved. This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form without prior written permission of the publishers.
Unless otherwise marked Scripture is taken from Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. • Scriptures marked (NKJV) are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. • Scriptures marked (KJV) are taken from the Holy Bible, King James Version, which is in the public domain. • Scriptures marked (WEB) are taken from the World English Bible which is in the public domain.
Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication
Nullmeyer, Ernie, author
How I Triumphed Over Multiple Traumas
/ Ernie Nullmeyer.
ISBN 978-1-927355-21-3 (softcover)
1. Nullmeyer, Ernie. 2. Success. 3. Autobiographies.
I. Title.
BF637.S8N85 2017 158.1 C2017-905410-4
Introduction
1. Loss of My Chosen Vocation
2. Loss of Employment
3. Loss of Employment Again
4. Loss of My Beloved First Wife
5. Loss of My Beloved Son
6. “Loss” of My Beloved Wife Through Alzheimer’s
Introduction
Chapter 1: Traumas Relieved Through Three Principles
1 Accept the Circumstances
2. Adapt to the Circumstances
3. Advance in Spite of the Circumstances
Chapter 2: Traumas Relieved Through Seven Pillars
1. A Strong Faith
2. A Light Spirit
3. A Gratitude-Attitude
4. A Multiplicity of Diversions
5. A Healthy Lifestyle
6. An Altruistic Spirit
7. Family and Friends
1 Bad Things and God’s Will
2 Death’s Sting “Be Gone!”
3 Praise and Worship
4 Living Happily Ever After
Dedicated to my beloved son Kevin
who completed his earthly journey
and commenced his eternal journey
August 9, 2010
“I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”
(2 Samuel 12:23)
And to my beloved grandchildren,
who keep their grandpa “young in spirit”
SAVANNAH, CAITE
ASHLEY, ANDREW, JOCI, ALI
BROOK, TAYLOR
KYLA AND LILY
Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget
the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart
as long as you live. Teach them to your children and
to their children after them.
(Deuteronomy 4:9)
PROLOGUE
Often when I am out and about and people discover my age and see evidence of how unusually healthy I am in my eighties, I will get asked something like “What is your secret?” My response is always “I don’t know if there’s any secret to it, but I do have three principles and seven pillars that I live by, and of course a little good fortune is involved as well.” As time is usually of the essence when I am asked that question, I decided it was time for me to put into print those principles and pillars that have enabled me—in spite of many traumatic experiences—to enjoy a healthy, joyous life.
I say “in spite of” because it’s easy to look at someone like me who has a sunny, effervescent, insouciant approach to life and assume that the person has never had any bad experiences to deal with. I guess the old cliché is appropriate here: “You can’t tell a book by its cover.”
