I Hope Next Month Is Better!
Have you ever had a day you wished would just end? Well, this month has been like that for me. Going into the month, I knew it would be non-stop. I was OK with that. What I was unprepared to deal with was getting sick. First was the stomach bug while overseas. What a miserable experience. Let me tell you, being sick in a third-world country and having to be left behind in a hotel by yourself because you're not well enough to travel is a pretty lonely feeling.
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After several days of fasting, an IV, and a boatload of meds, I was up and somewhat going. I don't think I've ever been so glad to be heading home. I was looking forward to spending time with the family and getting 100% healthy. But as soon as I walked into the house, there she was. My little girl saw me and ran into my arms. I loved every moment of it and yet I cringed. My kids had spent the week at Vacation Bible Experience and I could tell my daughter was getting sick.
Sure enough, the next day she had a sniffly nose and was developing an awful cough. And to make things worse, it seemed like all she wanted to do was cling to me. She'd hug on me and kiss on me and cough on me too. I only had a few days before having to leave again and I knew there was no way I could survive her precious love intact. But I'd been gone for a couple of weeks and she needed me. So I continued to be her teddy bear for the next few days.
Well, it didn't take long before my throat started to hurt and by Saturday, I had a full-blown cold. I flew out the next day and had the joy of experiencing another week of being sick in a motel. I'm typing this blog on the plane heading back to the house. Once again, I can't wait to get home, but I hope this will be the end of illnesses for some time.
I don't write so that you’ll have pity on me. Everyone gets sick. This is not my first rodeo nor will it be the last. I'm sharing my story because of a thought that came to me today. In Genesis 1 and 2, God created man perfect and healthy. I don't know how many times God walked through the garden with the pair, but I imagine it was often. It must have been a delight for them to spend time with each other.
Then they sinned. In so doing, they allowed a terrible plague to corrupt their bodies. Genesis 3:8-9 reads, "And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day... Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, 'Where are you?'" Have you ever wondered what went through the Lord's mind when He saw them? Certainly, He was glad to see them for He loves us dearly. Yet, they were sick. Does He hug them? Should He kiss them? Should He let them breathe on Him?
In a small, imperfect way, my experience with my daughter has helped me understand this a little better. Although I didn't want to catch her cold, I love her so much that I could not reject her. I could not leave her without the comfort of her daddy.
In the same way, Jesus loved us so much that He could not leave us to fend for ourselves. He knew that we stood no chance without Him. Although every fiber of His being detests sin, He left heaven's beauty and perfection to live amongst it. And He didn't even vaccinate Himself. In fact, He left Himself wide open to contract our disease by taking on the form of humanity. In this human form, He "...was in all points tempted as we are..." (Hebrews 4:15) Then He did the unthinkable. After conquering sin, He willingly took our disease upon Himself. Second Corinthians says, "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us..." Awesome!
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13)
