Being a mom is often a challenging task.
Being a sick mom and taking care of sick children can be onerous.
I’m living in that “o” zone right now. The only reason I’m writing is because I need to give my aching bones and muscles a break from lying in bed.
While I was horizontal, bemoaning my situation, I noticed that it took some effort to focus my thoughts on God. I asked him to heal me, but then I realized he’s in control of everything, so I’m sick because he has allowed it. So I changed my prayer—“help me to learn what I need to from this time”. Last week I asked him to help me grow in my patience. I hope this isn’t his response.
Regardless, it’s another example of me humbling myself to his will. It’s easy for the co-dependent in me to start getting anxious about the number of personal sick days I’m quickly accruing at work before my absences start coming out of my paycheck.
Then I make myself recall the thousands of fish sandwiches Jesus pulled out of the air (Luke 9:10-17), the oil jar that wouldn’t quit (1 Kings 17:7-16), and sweet flour he rained down on Israel for 40 years (Exodus 16). And those are just a tip of the wheat stalk.
Lookie there, I just had a friend text me she’s making me a pot of homemade chicken soup.
And my son’s respite care worker bought my kids not one, but two large pizzas just because. Now what was I fretting about? I just have to keep God’s promises before me. He is the ultimate parent.
Makes me feel like a real wimp though since I know of several friends (including the soup-making sister) that live with chronic illness. Being sick for a few days helps me stand in awe of their faithfulness.
Okay, I’m done. I’m ready to go back to bed. I’m so glad we did this, but let’s not do it again anytime soon ;-).