(Written Wednesday, January 4th)
Since Sunday I’ve had a doosy of a sickness. A hurts-to-swallow sore throat, a can’t-move-or-my-head-throbs headache, sore and aching body, and a fever that makes me feel cold if I’m not wearing a blanket… or two… or three. It let up a bit on Tuesday. I thought my fever was done and I was on the mend, even though I still had the sore throat. Turns out I wasn’t on the right track in my thinking, as I got that fever again this afternoon. I had slept most of the day Sunday through Tuesday, and thought to take a nap again as I noticed the fever and my headache grew.
But as I lay down to try and sleep, I noticed something. Joe didn’t seem all that happy about all the interruptions the boys (our own and the couple of nephews we’re watching today, because we thought I was done with the fever!) were giving him. Between needy babies and screaming preschoolers and Kindergartner, he seemed to be getting pretty annoyed at his work being interrupted.
And that made me stop and think – the world doesn’t revolve around me. My sickness is an inconvenience to myself (I feel misrable, and I had planned to start a new schedule that I’m completely failing at), but it has also inconvenienced Joe, as he had some plans he wanted to try to accomplish this week. Things aren’t working out for either of us. And I can choose my attitude about the situation.
I could be upset that he’s irritated because he has to care for the kiddos because I’m not feeling well, or I can seek to serve him by doing what I can to take care of them, even though I’m not feeling the best… I decided to work as well as I could despite my symptoms to help my hubby out today. And to write this post.
As soon as I decided to write, everyone needed me! Haha! I almost got upset, but realized the irony. So I dealt with everything and when it was done, there was plenty of time to write this whole thing. 😉
I’m not writing this to put Joe down, or make anyone feel bad with how amazing I am for doing this… I’m actually pretty surprised at how well I’m handling today, as this is totally not the norm for me. Usually, I’d be getting pretty upset and angry that I can’t just lay still (or do whatever else it might have been), without being interrupted. I’m writing this because today I didn’t get angry – and for that God deserves all the glory! It’s not my own doing, but him in me.
I may slip up and get irritated and angry tomorrow, or even later tonight, but that’s ok. I’m a work in progress, and this time, Christ has won in me!
What battle are you facing today? Will you surrender your own desires and let God win? When Christ wins the battle, let’s make sure to give 13him the glory!