The Lord uses many things to bring about repentance and sanctification in my life. One of my least favorite tools He uses is the dreaded stomach virus. If you know me, you know that I loathe digestive illnesses worse than ANY OTHER CHILDHOOD SICKNESS ON THE PLANET! It's no small thing when someone in the family starts throwing up.
No. small. thing.
Ever seeking to grow and learn the lessons the Lord has for me, I'm trying to find contentment in this hard place. I'm also trying not to break out in hives or hyperventilate. Important goals.
I decided I would list all the things I'm thankful for today. This will hopefully generate a spirit of thankfulness and peace in my heart as opposed to the despair and the willies running up and down my spine. It's worth a try.
1) I am thankful for gallon bottles of Germ X. Only Wal-Mart sells it by the gallon and I have seven gallons currently stashed in my 'doomsday' supplies. Nothing says 'doomsday' quite like a stomach bug so I'm breaking into the stash and placing all seven gallons at strategic locations around the house. Like every five feet. Pass a bottle without applying germ gel and risk a hysterical mother. My children know this about me.
2) Garbage bag lined buckets. What did the pioneers do before they had disposable garbage bags?
3) Indoor plumbing. Again I wonder about the pioneers.
4) Phenergan. I am so thankful to the inventor of phenergan. I have no idea who you are but, sir, I salute you. You have served mothers everywhere in ways you will never fully realize this side of heaven.
5) Crushed ice. Another one of the super great inventions of the 20th century. Did they have crushed ice in the 19th century. I may have my crushed ice dates wrong. I'm just glad I have access to crushed ice in 2009.
6) Shop Vacs with wet/dry capabilities. That's all I'm saying about that.
7) Portable DVD players and Walt Disney. Walt Disney, you have made many a sick child feel better for decades. Nothing takes your mind off how many times your child has thrown up in the past hour quite like Lady and the Tramp.
8) Washing machines with sanitizer settings and nice hot dryers. Sanitize, sanitize, sanitize!
9) Lysol spray. I used a whole bottle last night. I'm not kidding. Whole bottle. I sent Flibby to the store at 8am to buy more bottles. One can never have too much Lysol.
10) Clorox. Lord, how I thank You for my Clorox! Clorox is king in this house!! And, will be for the entire weekend in which you will find me up to my elbows in rubber gloves, rags and Clorox.
After all a germ has breached the perimeter of my carefully constructed 'germ free' home. That germ will rue the day he messed with this mama! It's time for annihilation!
11) Hand lotion. When washing your hands 4,553 times a day in the winter, you would not believe what a blessing a good moisturizing hand lotion can be.
12) I am SO thankful we cancelled our trip to Disney World! If we had kept our plans, today would be the day we would have boarded a plane bound for Disney. What a disaster that would have been! ~shudder~
13) I'm thankful for the 60 degree day we are supposed to have today! Praise the Lord!! Not only will warm weather make me feel happy, even downright giddy, it will also allow me to open the windows and let in some fresh germ-free air! While letting out stifiling germ-filled air! I am looking forward to that!
Thank you Lord for this trial. I really do understand that this is for my good and Your glory. That doesn't mean I can't pray that this pestilence leaves my house post haste, does it?
3 comments:
Oh, bless your hearts. Please know that we are praying for your family. After our nightmare experience the last week of December, I can truly appreciate your trouble! Can we bring your family a meal? Is there something else we could do to help in some way?
Praying for all of you,
Tracy
We are all praying that you all recover from this dreaded illness. While you are at it on the thankful list, how about 70 degrees and sunshine, LW! I agree with everything you said. I hope we don't get it!
Oh, I hope you're all feeling better soon! Your comment about Disney had me chuckling - Mary Poppins and toast with jelly are some of my strongest recollections of being sick from years back. I also remember when I was little being sick meant borrowing from our cousins some Disney movies we didn't have and which were therefore a rare treat. Common colds could get by with old favorites, but a nastier ailment called for something special. :)
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