We have been staying home...almost exclusively since the day after Christmas, when a stomach virus started around our family....it's a strange one, too....one child had it 24 hours, another is still wiped out and if he does any exertion, he is done for and needs to rest. Well...at the same time, I developed a Fibromyalgia flareup that has not gone away. After being awake for over 3 hours last night, and in a lot of pain today...I've done a lot of thinking about ( and praying about) a lot of things...our home, our routines, our health...and what is God's will for our family at this time.
Here is an excerpt from the classic devotional book 'Streams in the Desert'. I just love this devotional and it never fails to speak to my heart...and quiet, strengthen and comfort me.
"(1Kings 19:7) "The journey is too much for me...." What did God do with Elijah, his tired servant? He allowed him to sleep and gave him something good to eat. Elijah had done a tremendous work and in his excitement, he had run "ahead of Ahab's chariot all the way to Jezreel" (1kings 18:46) But the run had been too much for him and had sapped his physical strength...ultimately causing him to become depressed. Just as others in this condition need sleep and want their conditions treated, Elijah's physical requirements needed to be met. When this happens to us, the words of the Master are very soothing, "Get up and eat for the journey is too much for you". In other words, " I am going to refresh you." Therefore, may we never confuse physical weariness with spiritual weariness.
~ It is really hard, sometimes, I think, when you are physically weary, wornout and in pain to NOT become spiritually weary...but the Lord IS so faithful to me...He meets me in the middle of the night...in the middle of my pain...in worshipping Him...even if it is resting under blankets....He also refreshes my spirit by putting opportunities for me to serve Him....even thru flareups of my illness....sometimes by sitting quietly and crocheting while laughing and watching a family movie, sometimes by snuggling and reading books with my little ones....even thru serving by making meals for others....not much more work to double a recipe...and meals for others are really a family ministry. The girls help with all the prep work and sometimes make certain parts of the meal themselves and Ron never minds delivering them for us. It's a nice way we can all serve...in spite of physical limitations or pain.
Sometimes, too, when we are forced to stay home...I find I actually have much more time to read the Word...to listen to worship while preparing a meal...or just to sit quietly and pray...spend time with my Father...resting in His unique care for me...remembering always, that He knows my needs before we ever need them...and gives us what we need.
I was supposed to go to our small group tonight...and was really looking forward to it. One of the things we were supposed to come prepared to share were a couple of our favorite scriptures that we turn to often. Here are a few of mine:
Deuteronomy 33:25 "As your days, so shall your strength be"
Phillipians 4:11 "For I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be content"
Jeremiah 29:11-13 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord..."
And...1Timothy 6:6-8 "Now Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain that we can carry nothing out. And, having food and clothing, with these we shall be content."
Of course, I love all of God's love letter to me...I can get lost in Psalms...I'm enthralled by Genesis, convicted by Deuteronomy and the commandments, in awe of everything of Jesus' life...and I am comforted and encouraged by Job and Revelation....I am learning to take these times of 'enforced' rest...and rest in my Father's arms....to listen to His still small voice when I am not running around to a lot of commitments....and really appreciating and enjoying the family that He has blessed me with. I've come to realize that God's plan for everyone is different...Oh, how He lavishes His BEST on us....how foolish we are when we are 'too busy' to see it or often comparing our lives, our homes and our families with someone elses!!! How ungrateful! I'm going to go now, heat up some leftovers for the kids and I since Ron got called into work an extra shift.
( Thanks, Lord, for the extra work...it's greatly appreciated!)...and maybe light a fire tonight and enjoy my children...while resting. May you all have a restful evening and be blessed! ~Sue~
2 comments:
I hope you will be feeling better soon. I have struggled with candida issues for years, not exactly the same but they have some similarities. We will be praying for you guys.
MandyN
P.S. I love your girl's posts. I keep forgeting to have my girls blog. Great writing practice. All of you seem to have a knack for writing. I prefer math and science and most of my kids have followed suit!
From about 1994 until about 2004, I struggled with chronic health issues. (I shared this story in Above Rubies, in an article entitled "I Left My Joy Behind.") I ran like a maniac and lost my health in the process. I know that the Lord was trying to get my attention during those years, but I was like the Energize Bunny. I kept going and going, even when very ill. At one point, because I wouldn't slow down voluntarily, the Lord did what it took. I ended up with a horrible case of pneumonia and was down and out for about 2 months...but my lungs were still problematic afterwards, and I developed asthma as well. I have learned that when we are sick, we MUST slow down. Our bodies NEED rest. Actually, we often treat machinery better than we treat our bodies. I can't imagine we'd run a broken copy machine for ten hours after it began making noises. But we do that to our bodies.
Even now that I've regained my health, I find that I must still live a relatively quiet life. When I go/go/go all the time, I WILL get sick again. It really is okay to enjoy being at home and doing home-centered things and ministering to others through our homes. It really is okay to not run like a crazy woman.
Blessings,
Patti
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