Just hours after writing a first day of spring prayer, I began to have the "privilege" of seeing my life from a sickbed. In agony, misery or boredom, I have stared at the walls (when they weren't spinning) so long that the grain in the wood paneling now has cartoon-like old people making faces at me. Creepy, I know! In between the mockery from them, I've also been listening to a Voice whispering some needed truth to my heart. In between my fits of dizziness and nausea, I wanted to share a few with you here:
1. God is more awesome than I choose to recognize. I usually take for granted that I can turn my head without a swishing vision, that I can bend over and come up again, that I can sit up or walk around without fainting, that I can eat and feel good after. Normal behaviors, normal body movements exist because of the intricate work of Creator God. Don't tell me He's not real! It's a miracle we have the capacity to do what we do! He deserves our praise all day long!
2. Suffering Christians need me to get serious about prayer. Laying in agony, unable to see straight, never knowing if this will end, dehydrated, weak, unable to think clearly. And I'm in a home with a bed, sunlight streaming in the windows, a husband caring for me. How many Christians around the world are suffering worse, in a dark and dank cell alone for the name of Jesus? Too often I carelessly go about my day, hardly realizing the gift of freedom I still experience, hardly praising the God THEY are living for, hardly remembering their dire need of prayer.
3. Great moments are built on a life of mundane. Being sidelined from my life has offered a perspective on life I hadn't expected. Hearing the family carry on with their daily tasks, or struggling to do so with the imbalance of mom in bed, caused me to realize how much I love the mundane. All the days of showing up, engaging with one another, sharing in frustrations, excitements and funnies are creating lives of character and substance. What I was loathing just days ago has become an anticipated place of living again.
4. What surrounds us doesn't hold a candle to who surrounds us. While surviving these last days, I didn't give a thought to the things around me, the social media world or other things that usually consume my thoughts and time. I was only concerned with and affected by the family around me. We spend all manner of time on things that don't hold value. We'd be wise to give more thought and time investing in the eternal things...the people around us!
5. Everyone is replaceable. My five year old little man has struggled to have me down. He jumped right to it one day. Through some tears he said, "Now we gonna have funeral and daddy gonna have new wife." Thanks, son, that means so much to me! As much as I don't want to think so, I am easily replaceable. And so are you! Any day we are given the chance to live our lives is a gift! Let's approach the day with gratitude and anticipation!
I can't wait to be free from this sickness, but I am thankful for the new perspective He has given me. Though being laid low is nothing I'd ask for, sometimes it's the biggest blessing God can give! In whatever you or I face today may we be able to praise the God holding it all!
PS. For those of you who have been praying for me, thank you. I appreciate it so much! If you think of it, keep praying for a full recovery. Day 5 today! phew.