Proverbs 16:18
I had it coming.
Long overdue.
"Now that my family and I only eat good food and bla bla bla........we are never sick."
Haughty spirit.
It didn't begin that way, nope. Just unfortunately evolved from the joy of feeling better.
Will there ever be a time when I simply learn a lesson, tuck away its message, and move on?
Why, upon the upliftment of blessing, do I so often look around, compare myself to others, stick my nose in the air, and condescend? Simple graciousness would be a much better response.
Three years of not being sick. Three years of opportunity to practice gratitude.
But no. Instead, three years of arrogantly patting myself on the back, as though I'd achieved the feat on my own.
So, here comes a nasty head cold. A ten day doozy. "Well, I deserve this."
But it doesn't stop there. Nope, this comeuppance is only getting started.
Under lowered immunity pneumonia creeps in. Weakness, cough, aches, fever, chills, harder cough, sleeplessness, fatigue, more fever, swimming head, shakes, sweats, more chills, worsening cough. Entire family in various stages of the same illness. Meals become harder to come by. The less weak compromise their recovery to make grocery runs, prepare food. The weak become stronger. The strong-ish resume weakness.
I've been sick for a month. I can't adequately care for my family. I can barely do anything. But cough. And sweat. And pray.
And get a clue.
Nose no longer raised. Nose being blown. Lungs thrashed. Sleep eludes.
Crabby.
Exhausted.
Defeated.
Pride goes before destruction.
A haughty spirit before a fall.
Just facts.
Got it.
For now.
Hope the lesson sticks this time.
I am never so weak as when I think I am strong.
