Over the past six weeks, our family has been sick off and on. One thing led to another to another to another. I don't think we have ever dealt with so much sickness at one time for such a lengthy period of time.
My faith got me through the first couple of weeks as I counted down the "normal" course of how bacteria, viruses, and colds work.
But as we all struggled beyond that fourteen day mark, I felt myself waver. I felt myself wonder if God was listening. I got a bit emotional, and I had a few brief moments of feeling like God was not near me nor was he listening to anything I was asking.
But I slowly reminded myself that feelings can not be trusted. My emotions don't represent reality or truth. Just because I feel it so deeply doesn't make it true. So I continued to read my Bible every day and cling to the one and only truth. And that truth tells me that God does hear me, He is close to me, and He has not forgotten me or my family.
As a believer, I told myself daily, "I am to be led by the Holy Spirit and not my emotions."
As we all are back to functioning in society, with a lingering cough and congestion, I remembered that I had not sang at all since this started. I know worship comes in many forms, but I have vowed to never let Satan have my song.
So I started to press myself to sing praises to God. I was breathy and off key and afraid I would stir up a coughing fit, but I sang softly, "As long as I have breath in my lungs, I will praise you, As long as I have breath in my lungs, I will praise, you," getting a little louder with each repetition. I prayed my sacrifice of song would be a sweet aroma to God's throne. It was the best I had to give.
I know it could all be so much worse, and I am counting my blessings. I am thanking God continuously for the moments we aren't coughing, that Spencer was able to go back to school this week, Isaiah was able to go back to school yesterday, I have been able to do almost all of my work remotely, and David was finally able to leave for a couple of his out of town design jobs. I am thanking God that we made the decision early on to cut back this year, because I would have been more of a mess if we had a lot of commitments and obligations.
Thank you all who have prayed for us, checked on us, brought food, and offered to help. You all have made us feel so loved and supported.
And "As long as I have breath in my lungs, I will praise God."
