January 25, 2013

Good morning all-

Well I thought I was getting better and then last night I got sick again.  Oh well, I guess it's my time to trust that I will be better again.  When you don't feel well, nothing else seems to matter.  I guess that's why I'm so humbled by those that suffer from illness.  I can't tell you how many surgeries, hospital stays and doctors visits my mom went to her in her lifetime.  I can't tell you the exact number of pills she took, although I think it was 22.  And I can't ever remember her complaining.  Strange because all I want to do is complain.

She was a strong woman who had faced her illness and her disease with grace.  At 45 she had her first event, I am two years older than her right now.  She would go on to have four more heart attacks.  I know she suffered but she always suffered in silence.  And all I have is some stomach bug and I'm already giving in to complaining.  What does complaining do for us anyway?  Does it change our circumstances?  No. So why do we persist in constant complaining, especially when we can't change it?  I believe we think by complaining it will change but nothing changes until we do.  That's why some people fight valiantly when their sick and others mumble, complain and become fully absorbed.  Just look at the children at St. Jude.  I love the commercials because they show children who have been run through extensive testing, put through machines, pricked until it doesn't matter anymore and suffered chemotherapy, multiple surgeries and long hospital stays and yet, you see smiles everywhere.

I'm glad I can think about these things when I get self-absorbed.  Who wants to become one of those people that complains and loses joy when all around us there's something to smile about.  I wonder if that's how Job felt.  He suffered for a long time, lost everything, including his friends and in the end, he smiled because God gave him back everything he had lost.  Our bodies were not made to last the test of time.  They begin to die as we begin to turn a new year.  Some will land on their feet and others will find out they have diseases, hurts, pains and trials.  Who knows what will happen but we're not to worry, our King is in control.  We just have to ensure that our will aligns with His.  So if I'm to endure more days of stomach problems then I must endure it with Him in mind.

I hope whether you are feeling ill today or you are taking care of someone that is that you remember that Jesus is near.  We can get fully absorbed into our own lives and forget everything Jesus taught us.  He was a man that went to the masses whether He felt like it or not.  He healed, loved and saved all of us.  Our duty is to love those around us, not worry about tomorrow and see Christ in all circumstances. I know that's hard because sometimes I forget too.  But today as I wonder what the day will hold, I thank Christ for giving me the strength to get out of bed, to write this blog and to take care of the people He has entrusted to me.  I'm praying for you and wishing you a blessed day.

Mark 3:15 NKJV:

     and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons.

Numbers 12:13 NKJV:

     So Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, "Please heal her, O God, I pray!"

Psalm 60:2 NKJV:

      You have made the earth tremble; You have broken it; heal its breaches, for it is shaking.

My prayer today:

O, Lord, You are my God.  In all things I must look for You.  I am so grateful that in the midst of every life situation I have You to call on.  I thank You for reminding me in my infirmity that others are more important than me.  Thank You for providing a role model that showed me that dying to myself, looking for You and loving people is all I need to do today.  You are the healer of nations and the Father of all.  We come today, Your ladies, calling to You and asking You to heal the sick, help the poor and restore faith in all nations.  We cry out to You to stand in the gap for the depressed, the lonely and the downtrodden.  We look for You in our beds, in our homes and in the world.  You are our King and we know that no matter the path, You are with us.  Be with us today as we try to find YOU!

Until tomorrow...