We had to leave church early today. In the middle of the service, one of the girls started to cry–she said her throat hurt and she had chills.
It was just before the offering when I saw her face all scrunched up in pain. I motioned for her to head to the lobby lickety-split, then grabbed my purse and followed her out. She felt only a tiny bit warm if at all, but she herself said she felt like she was boiling up–she peeled off her fleece jacket and let it fall to the ground. I quickly made a cup of weak tea–something warm to help with her throat–and decided we’d just better head home and take our germs with us.
After the offering was taken up and people stood for the Doxology, I slipped back in and signaled to the others that we would have to leave. They scooted down the aisle to join us in the lobby so we could high-tail it to the parking lot and back home for some rest and clear liquids.
On the ride home, I kept thinking about Thanksgiving. Leading up to Thanksgiving, we not only cleaned the main floor of the house top to bottom, we also washed our hands obsessively and wiped down counters and doorknobs and faucet handles with alcohol. We didn’t want a germ in the house nor in our bodies, because one of our guests has a weak immune system due to an extreme cancer treatment and can’t risk known exposure. We had to be totally clear of sniffles, sneezes, coughs and fevers, or they would have to stay home. We wanted our dear friends to join our family for the day of thanks! We did everything possible to stay well.
Fortunately, we stayed healthy all the way up to Thanksgiving, during which we were fit as fiddles. With not a runny nose among us and the house cleaner than it’s been in a long time, we were able to host our friends for a fabulous Thanksgiving pitch-in.
I was so glad that it stayed away until now.
It’s one of those small gifts of grace to take note of and count.
I think I’m up to number 13 of the Thousand Gifts:
We were healthy for Thanksgiving and because of that, our dear friends could join us.
What’s more, my daughter seemed much better this evening. I believe that can serve as number 14.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
All one thousand blessings and beyond.
He is so good! Thankful y’all had a germ-free Thanksgiving Day.
What a big blessing! My Mom had to have autopharisis to help with her healing after extreme chemo, and for 2 weeks, we would go to her house with my daughter (then 3) and my newborn son, and sit outside the window to communicate with her. Bless you for making such a major effort in creating a safe environment for your friend.
How’s your daughter today?