Everyone at Casa Burchett has been ill recently. Joni brought home the first cold bug. Then dog friend Hannah had a little stomach virus and that was not pretty. I will spare you the details. Now it is my turn to be sick.
I thought of how really crappy I have felt this week. And then I realized how much I take for granted the fifty weeks or so out of every year when I feel good or even great. Sure I have the usual little aches and pains that a 50 year old plus body will accumulate. But for five decades I have been blessed with the ability to run slowly, jump barely, dance awkwardly and laugh often. I am so blessed.
I thought about how I never got sick once during Joni’s chemotherapy when her immune system was so fragile. Praise God for that.
I thought about people who feel far worse than I have felt this week every single day of their lives. Yet they get up and go about their business every day. I thought of those who deal heroically with chronic pain and soldier on without complaint. I thought about those who begin to feel badly and never get better. I expect that I will recover soon. Some never will.
I admire the people who find joy in their lives even when they don’t feel like it. King Solomon said the following in the Book of Proverbs.
A cheerful look brings joy to the heart,
and good news gives health to the bones. (Proverbs 15, NIV)
The Message has an interesting take on this proverb.
A twinkle in the eye means joy in the heart, and good news makes you feel fit as a fiddle.
Think about the people who choose joy when circumstances don’t warrant that action. The kind of personality that responds with joy often features a twinkle in the eye. Joni and I call those people “bucket-fillers” because they always give more than they take and you just want to be around them.
Paul said in his letter to the church at Phillipi that he had learned to be content in his circumstance. It didn’t come naturally for him either.
I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. (Philippians 4, The Message)
I am grateful for the illness because it makes me appreciate health. My tens of readers are grateful for my illness because it shortens my ramblings considerably. Enjoy the word count respite. I hope you are able to choose joy today even if your circumstance is not what you desire.
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how do i choose joy. 99.999999999999% i feel blessed . But there is this .00000000000000001% that needs immmediate attention from God………..have been trusting God- trying to have a good attitude……….. like the bible says……..when one part is affected the whole part is …….that is the way i feel……………God has been soooooooooooooo good. …………but i am so troubled with this one major issue that i do not think i am doing justice in having a grateful heart ……………..God knows i have a grateful heart………….but i am not satisfied with the way i have responded to the blessings he has given me. What is the way out……………… the issue that is bothering me involves other people……….i cannot bear to see- back biting, hatred, criticism in some people close to me. in the beginning i have spoken out against it———–over the years i learnt my lesson argument does not help……………it only creates more rift in relationships…………….SO PAST FEW YEARS i have been earnestly praying…………trusting God . It looks like it is out of his control………………..it is not- but it looks like it is……….why i say so………..cause…………. i see the hand of hte lord in great and big and mighty ways where i have not even prayed for……………..he blesses so much as if trying to make up for this one area he did not do anything about…………sorry ………….he did not do enough about…..i have prayed
Bridgette
Thanks. As a half empty gal I really needed to read this
Sue Bohlin
Bingo, Dave. What an eloquent illustration of the hugely important paradigm shift that happens when we choose to give thanks–and look for things to give thanks for–in the midst of the temptation to throw a pity party. The perspective shift is monumental.
Oh, and it makes us much easier to be around, too. 🙂
Hugs to you today. . . from a distance. <wink>
Thomas St. Clair
Hi Dave!!!
There is a lot of that grunge going around, and many who are typically healthy are coughing and sniffling and feeling under the weather. I hope you and yours find relief quickly. You’re off key with me if you believe I want you to write less, I want you to write more, your words are so encouraging to me and I believe I am one of the many, not one of the few with contrary opinion on that topic. As you describe, I’m not often sick either, and when I fall prey to illness I’m less than thoughtful about how grateful I ought to be for how seldomly it actually occurs. I’m a Washingtonian, where we don’t TAN, we RUST. I’m constantly reminding people as they murmur about the rain, that without it we’d go back to dust, we’re blessed through that rain, and I agree with you, we’re blessed if we can say sickness strikes seldomly and then passes. I pray whatever is ailing you has taken leave and left you to write another encouraging note for us!
God Bless You Dave!
Sincerely,
Tom S
Kathleen Flanagan
Praying you’ll recover soon and be healthier than ever! I couldn’t help but think about how amazed I am that I actually learned this lesson about “choices” (I just turned 60, and it took a while!). It’s the lesson of intentional living – of the willingness to be not only responsible but also accountable (no blame games or victim thinking); the lesson of putting on His armor, and of trust. I have seen such great, blessed days for which I am grateful. I have seen many dark and difficult days too. It was these that were often the more direct route to God’s arms. And in all circumstances – be it illness or soul sickness – what I’ve experienced has served to build a stronger immune system ultimately. May this season of health challenges soon become a season of vigor!
Danielle in Dallas
Thank you for your uplifting thoughts. That passage from the message really encouraged me and I printed it off and put it up on my bulletin board at work.
We are so blessed, those of us among the healthy.