I Miss People

Confession time. I’ve been hold up at my place for two plus weeks now! Well, four of those days were at my children’s home. It was supposed to have been a fun few days taking care of their boys and Bentley, their dog, while mom and dad were away. Instead, I was held up in their bedroom – sick as a dog. Mmm! How would I know what that “sick” is?

I don’t know the dog part, but I do know the misery from more pain than I thought bearable. First sick night – I had crazy chills in my body. I couldn’t find a thermometer that worked, but I could feel how hot my body was. I laugh when I say “how hot my body was” – oh that I meant this voluptuous killer body, but not! I’m talking body temperature.

Next morning, I had progressed to all-over body aches and pains that felt like I had been in combat and lost! By that night, I felt like I was swallowing broken glass. Never have I known such non-stop pain. I was convinced it was strep throat, but contraire! A couple of tests later and my doctor assured me it was Covid! WHAT? Where had I been? Who had I been around? How could I have Covid? I’ve come to find out that Covid is no respecter of persons….including me!

Thanks be to God that I survived to tell the story. Oh, how good it feels to be back in the land of the living.

Seriously, I’m not good at being cloistered. I’m a gad-about! I do not mind staying to myself for a day or so, BUT I need and want people! And everything inside of me wants people to want me. I want to be the peace of Christ to anyone and everyone who comes around me. I want to be the joy of Christ. I want to be the love of Christ.

I’d like to say my record is spotless, but not so! I have messed up time and time again. But still, I desire to be His peace. Still, I wake up every day with new zeal to arise and be about the Master’s business. Still, I want to be His with every fiber of my being. Still, I long for the yucky in me to melt away in His presence, that I would be a vessel and conduit of His grace.

Here’s what I’ve come to know. Our good and bad days and nights are in God’s hands. I know that He has a vision for our lives. Maybe, it’s being Christ’s peace to others. Maybe, it’s living His generosity. Maybe it’s being His mercy. Maybe, it’s showing His kindness to every person we meet. Maybe, it’s being His joy even when we’re at the end of our rope with everyone and everything.

Still, we can rise. Still, we can be His. He will always use us and pour His grace into us. We need only let Him. We need only remember that in this very moment, He is working in and through us for His good pleasure. He wasn’t at all surprised by my body being shut down a few days. I surrendered to the process and while it didn’t feel like it, I’m sure my Lord “made me lie down in green pastures so that my body and soul could be restored”.

I was awakened to appreciate good health more than ever – to complain less and love more. I’m getting a do-over on this new day! Won’t you arise with me and our Lord and be His vessel in the world!

But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)