Yucky!

Of the typical viruses children "bring" home from school, the stomach virus is definitely the worst.  However, we've been blessed the past few times it has gone around and had missed out on that virus until now.  Tyler, the youngest, had it last week.  Shortly after midnight today the oldest, Lauren, got it and then right before school the third child, Jacob, got it.  Just one more child to go (ha ha)!  Thankfully, it's a quick virus, it seems.  Tonight is the beginning of Lauren's big basketball tournament, so she is hoping to be able to go to school after lunch.  It could happen because that would be 12 hours later.  Could happen, but might not happen.

One of my favorite stories in the Bible is about the woman who had bled for 12 years.  It is found in three books: Matthew 9:20-22, Mark 5:25-34, and Luke 8:43-48. Here is the story from Matthew:


Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed." Jesus turned and saw her. "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed from that moment.
 
It's a very short story, but it's one of my favorites because it shows the deep faith this woman had in Jesus and in His ability to heal her. We're not told where she was bleeding, but it is quite possible that she was considered unclean by most people at that time.  Leviticus 15:19-30 talks about women and their monthly cycle and how they were to care for themselves and become "clean" again.  Twelve years of bledding.  Can you imagine that?  I can't.  It would be horrible!  But, this woman had a hope in Jesus.  She knew if she could even touch his cloak she would be healed.
 
We may be sick.  We may have physical sickness or mental sickness or spiritual sickness.  Jesus can heal us just as He healed that woman.  We just have to be willing to reach out to Him as she did.  Jesus gives hope to all who need Him - which is every one of us.