The Chronicles of Biscuit - Better Isn't Good Enough

Biscuit has been home a few days with strep throat.  This morning, as I woke him up, I thought maybe he would feel better and want to go to school.  I said, "Tyler, you're feeling a little better, aren't you?" He said, "Well, yesterday was so bad that a little better isn't good enough."  

You parents and grandparents all know how hard it is to see our children sick and how thankful we are when they are all better. For Biscuit to not be outside playing some sport (currently football) any time he has the opportunity is just not normal.  He isn't as happy and spirited.  He's just laying around, which isn't normal for him at all.  It makes me thankful for good health for my children when they have it.

It also makes me think of those  whose children are chronically and critically ill with things that won't get better.  I can't imagine the struggle they have, but also the strength they must have to deal with all they have to go through and deal with.  I think of those whose children have passed away due to these complications, and my heart aches for their loss.

Be thankful for the health of those around you.  Remind yourself that someone is struggling with illness right now, either in themselves or with a family member.  Pray for them. Do something to help them, if you can.  They need support.

Biscuit will get better, and will be back outside probably before the end of this day. But many won't. They won't be able to go play outside.  They won't be able to go back to school.  Let's do what we can to brighten their lives, and to show our support and love to those who are carrying for them.

Though the physical body may be unhealthy and we may not be able to do anything about it, it is possible keep our spiritual bodies healthy.  And there is something we can do about it.  We can choose to follow Jesus!  We can become a child of God by giving our lives to Jesus! We can have our sins washed away! What a wonderful thing!

My son, pay attention to what I say;

    turn your ear to my words.

Do not let them out of your sight,

    keep them within your heart;

for they are life to those who find them

    and health to one’s whole body.

Proverbs 4:20-22

He Will Sustain You!

Even to your old age and gray hairs

    I am he, I am he who will sustain you.

I have made you and I will carry you;    

I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

Isaiah 46:4

Sometimes before I write a post, I go to biblegateway.com and read today's scripture.  Occasionally, it becomes my topic for my blog post, once I read the whole chapter, but not always.

This morning I had done a devotional with our boys before school from Jesus Calling.  My husband usually does one from a daily devotional app on his phone, but he was gone.  I just opened up the book to September 8th, even though today is the 9th, because one of the boys had already ready the 9th.

I think God is speaking to me today!  The Jesus Calling devotional went like this:

Accept each day exactly as it comes to you.  By that, I mean not only the circumstances of your day but also the condition of your body. Your assignment is to trust Me absolutely, resting in My sovereignty and faithfulness.

On some days, your circumstances and your physical condition feel out of balance.

It went on to say that we have a choice:  To give up or rely on God.  

The scripture at the top, from Bible Gateway, also had to do with the body....specifically the decaying of the body.  This is pretty neat that both of these thoughts had to do with our physical body and how it feels.  It's also very relevant to me, since I've been sick for over three weeks!  But praise be to God that yesterday and today I've felt really good! Sometimes, when we have been sick, it makes us thankful for the good days, even more. It also shows us that there are so many who are so very sick and who have it much worse than we do.  Some don't get to feeling better.  Some never do.

As I read the devo to the boys, I wasn't sure they would really "get" it.  It's more for adults.  But, I explained to them, that when I felt really, really bad, I could have given up. I couldn't have gotten down and depressed. I could have given up on God.  But I didn't.  And so many don't.  Sadly, many do.

It is a choice.  But, even if we choose to give up on God, He never gives up on us.  He loves us and cares for us....even when we don't love and care for Him.

If your physical body is feeling signs of getting older, or if you are sick and in pain, choose Him.  He will sustain you!

Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior. Psalm 42:5  

We're All Different

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶ We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. 

Romans 12:4-6a

I've been thinking about how different we all are.  I was actually thinking of my own family in regards to our recent bout with sickness - and how some bounced back in a day, while others didn't.  

This morning another child felt yucky again and didn't go to school. (I knew it was 'real' when my threat of, "You have to stay on the love seat all day long, can't get up and play, can't go out and play after the others get home from school, and can't watch anything on TV", didn't phase him!)  He doesn't have many symptoms, but I know from experience how that "yucky" feeling feels.  I sympathized with him.  He's still sleeping, almost two hours later.  Maybe that's what he needed.

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. ¹³ For we were all baptized by^[c] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. ¹⁴ Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. 1 Corinthians 12:12-14a

This illustration of my family and the differences in how we handle sickness makes me think of the church - and how we are each a part of the church.  The same body, but different parts.  There are stronger parts and weaker parts.  There are working parts and hard working parts.  There are some that do things that are seen, and others who do things quietly and unknown.  All different. All unique.  All needed. All useful parts in the kingdom of God.

²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 1 Corinthians 12:27

No one part is more special than the other part.  All are a part of the whole - the body of Christ.  But just as my family has had to help each other out during our 'sickness', we, as members of the body of Christ, must help each other at times of need.  Within the church, there is ALWAYS someone else in need.  Maybe someone is sick.  Maybe someone is struggling in some way.  Maybe someone is grieving, or lonely, or worried.  Maybe their faith is wavering.  Something isn't right.

Our job, as sisters in Christ, is to reach out to those who need us.  They're most likely not going to ask us for help. They're not going to call us and say they need something, but it's our job to LOOK for those who are needy.  We must be willing to turn our focus away from ourselves and look for ways to help others.  There is something we can do each and every day to help someone else.  We just have to be willing to look.  We probably won't have to look very far.

And, at times, maybe we will be the ones who need the help.  Perhaps someone will look around and see that we are the one in need.  That's what is so great about the Lord's church!  He knew we needed each other so He provided us with a unique and special way to connect with each other - by making us His children.  We're sisters in Christ!

Yes, we're all different.  But we're all the same, too, if we are members of His body.  So today, let's see what we can do to help those other body-members.  Most likely someone is needing your help today.

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. 

Galatians 6:10

Thorn in the Flesh

Today I want to talk to you about something I haven't ever written about before.  It's not that I don't think you'll care, but I just haven't wanted to bring it up.  I don't want to have a pity party for myself and wouldn't want to invite you to it, either.  Some parties are fun.  Pity parties are not!

For the past 2 1/2 months I've been dealing with sinus trouble, asthma problems, allergy problems, and unexplained shortness of breath.  Every day when I wake up I hope and pray that this trouble has disappeared, but so far it hasn't.  Some days are better than others, but none of them are great, as far as my breathing is concerned.  For the most part, I'm able to get through each day with several asthma/allergy medications and also use a nebulizer (breathing treatments) several times a day.  I've been exploring natural-type treatments, as well.

I've had asthma for over 30 years.  I know enough about it that I know how to treat it and take preventative steps/medications to help control it for the most part.  My allergies were bad as a child and I took shots for years, but then they seemed to subside, until they re-appeared with a vengance a few years ago.  I'm actually starting allergy shots again this week and am optimistic that they will help many of my symptoms.

For the most part, the breathing difficulty doesn't seem to be asthma related because no asthma medications seem to help.  Allergy medicines help a little bit, but they don't totally rectify the problem, either.  I had this same trouble a few years ago and had a few irregular heart tests along with the breathing symptoms.  I was sent to a heart specialist and a lung specialist. The heart doctor thought everything was heart-related and the lung doctor thought everything was heart-related.  Basically, nothing helped and nothing was found.  In the end, after three months, my breathing got better and the cause of my problems were never known.  I didn't care.  I was just thankful it disappeared!

These past few months have been about the same.  This go-round began with several sinus infections, then went to bronchitis/clinical pneumonia, general allergy/asthma trouble, and then the same unexplained shortness of breath.  Lots of medicines and trips to the doctor.  Still no answers.

Recently when I went to the doctor, I was upset.  I was having to miss one of my children's baseball games - a game where he was the pitcher...something he only did twice this year.  The doctor began to read in to my tears/upset frame of mind as depression.  I could tell by the way he acted.  This made me mad (and I don't get mad too often)!  I AM TOO BLESSED TO BE DEPRESSED!  I do not want a label like depression (not that I think it's bad or wrong, but I knew that wasn't my problem and I didn't want an offering of another medicine for something that I was positive I didn't need)   I wanted to get well.  I had been on two months worth of antibiotics and prednisone (which causes unfortunate weight gain) and now I had begun to run fever yet again!.  I wanted to be well!  I didn't want to be sick all of the time!  After my somewhat of a rant explanation of how I felt, the doctor retreated from the "depression" stance (I think he was scared :)  hee hee!  No, I really think he got the drift that I wasn't depressed.  I was angry that my sickness was keeping me from doing what I needed and wanted to do.  It was keeping from doing what I should be doing...taking care of my family.  It was keeping me from being at my son's game.  I don't like having to miss my children's activities or anything else, for that matter.

So, I'm telling you this because, first of all, I would like for you to pray for me.  Pray for my health and my breathing.  Pray for the shortness of breath to GO AWAY, please.  Secondly, I'm telling you this because maybe you are struggling with something in your life - something that you want to happen or something you want to go away - and yet God is saying NO.  If you're like me, you don't like NO!  You want what YOU want.  I want what I want.  I want God to take care of this now and I'm growing a little bit impatient in the waiting game.

But, you know what?  I keep thinking of the apostle Paul.  He had a "thorn" in his flesh.  We don't know what it was, but some Bible scholars speculate that it was poor eyesight because of this verse: "See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand," Galatians 6:11

Whatever it was, Paul didn't like it and he had asked God to take it from him.....and God said NO.  Paul also recognized his "thorn" as from Satan.  I can easily think of my health problems as from Satan!  It's not hard at all, in fact!

What I must do, though, is realize that God is in control.  Not me.  And, just maybe, that is what God is trying to teach me.   Maybe not, but maybe so.  Maybe He is saying to me, like he did to Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 

To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 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. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

If that is what God is trying to tell me, then, God: I AM LISTENING! If it is, then I must be content and realize that His grace is sufficient for me....no matter how hard that may be.

Thank you, in advance, for you prayers on my behalf.  I appreciate it very much!

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.

Thank You, God!

Well, if you read yesterday's post below or here, you'll know that our house has been struck with "swine flu". Tyler, the youngest, who tested positive for the flu, woke up at 5:00 a.m. this morning with fever again, but went back to sleep after getting ibuprofen and didn't wake up until 10:00 a.m.! He's been fine ever since - "Thank You, God!" It's really amazing how fast the Tamiflu helped him. The pediatrician called today and talked to my husband. He said that it really does work fast. That's great.

I knew Tyler was better when I heard him talking - loudly - and like "Mickey Mouse"...his favorite impersonation! Also, he came to me this afternoon and asked if he could cook lunch for us (for his two siblings, himself and me). I asked him what he wanted to make and he said, "Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I haven't cooked in a long time!". And so, he did. It was so sweet.

We went ahead a got two of our other children on the Tamiflu and I'm glad that we did. They both had fever throughout the day, but their coughing has subsided some. They should be fine by tomorrow, but will have to wait and see.

Our oldest son who was only sick Monday is still fine and didn't have to take Tamiflu. I did get on it. This morning I felt horrible...don't think I've ever had the flu of any kind that I remember, but this thing made me ache all over, even in the knuckles! That was weird. After getting on the medicine, though, I'm already better (Thank You, God!).

The school called all the parents of kids who have been sick this week and let them know, just to take extra precautions. So far Tyler is the only "official" one. It is something to watch for, but nothing to panic about. The Tamiflu is great. Of course, for those with weakened immune systems, they would need to watch more carefully for complications.

Thank you for all of your prayers on our behalf. We appreciate it very much!

"The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." James 5:16

it's all in how you look at it...

Yesterday our oldest son, Zachary, was sick...running fever and coughing. Come to find out, there were 10 out of his class of 24 either sick at home, went home during school, or were in the nurse's office. Zachary was much better this morning and even went to school today. Early this morning our youngest, Tyler (a.k.a. Biscuit) began running fever and coughing. Of course, he stayed home from school and rested most all of the day even slept over three hours.

Late this afternoon, Tyler's fever shot up to 103.8, so I gave him ibuprofen and immediately called the pediatrician's office because they were getting ready to close. The nurse said to take him to the emergency room, which is an hour away from our small town. There are some closer, but it's where our four children were born and where their doctor is located. When we got there, we could tell the fever had gone down some, but they got us right in quickly. Tyler really acted sick, which is very unusual for him.

The doctor couldn't find anything wrong on examination, but tested him for strep throat and swine flu. The strep was negative, but the flu was positive. That means that Tyler is 92% postive for swine flu. This information didn't surprise my husband and I. In fact, we kind of suspected it because the way it had begun so quickly with Tyler and with Zachary the day before, but also because of so many being sick in our middle school yesterday and the symptoms they all had - fever and cough.

The ER doctor prescribed Tamiflu and said we should call to see if our other children (and us, too) needed to be on it. We'll do that in the morning. Because of the results, the information will be passed on to the State of Oklahoma. The test will be confirmed, as well. By the time we got back home, our other two children who were feeling fine when we left, were coughing and were also running fever....now I'm coughing and feeling a little "yuck", but not too bad. My husband usually never gets what the rest of us do, so prayerfully that will be the case with this thing.

We're not worriers or panicers (is that a word???) by nature, so we're calm about the whole thing. God is always in control so there's no need to worry. Because the boys and I have asthma, I do want us to be extra cautious and watch for complications because of that. The doctor did say that most cases of swine flu are mild and most never go to the doctor or know they have it. Tyler's fever just happened to get high, where Zachary's didn't do that yesterday....and then today Zachary was also better.

We told Tyler that he was the first person we knew that had swine flu in our small town. He now thinks he's famous. He's excited and thinks people might want his autograph! He thinks this because a few of the Texas Rangers baseball players had swine flu several weeks ago and in his "make-believe" life he is a pro baseball player. My husband ran into Tyler's teacher today down town and she asked, "Are you all flying to Georgia?" Joe said, "No." She said that Tyler has said that he is in class. Joe explained to her that in his make-believe pro baseball life, he plays for the Ranger's but he's being traded to the Atlanta Braves!

So, you see - it's all in how you look at it!

Please pray for our family and for others who have it - that they will get well quickly and without complications. Also pray for those who have been exposed that they may not develop the full-blown flu. In advance, thank you for your prayers.