Monday Motivation: Sickness

Friends

Have you stayed healthy this winter. I certainly hope so! Unfortunately, I have not, but I have learned a valuable lesson through all this sickness.

 

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“Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?”

Luke 17:17 – NIV

 

Well, I just can’t seem to get well. The problems began on January 23rd when my husband Eric reported cold symptoms, or so we thought. Within two days, I came down sick, but we soon realized this was more than a simple cold. The flu had struck our household! 

 

It took three weeks for a full recovery, but honestly, my sinus congestion never completely cleared. For two more weeks, I played the procrastination game, putting off a doctor visit for a possible sinus infection. I just knew I was getting better. Until I wasn’t. 

 

On the late afternoon of March 1st, the coughing began, and things went downhill from there. The next morning,I headed to Urgent Care, determined to resolve the mystery of my unabating illness, only to find that I now had Covid. My husband summed up my feelings well. “Wonderful!” 

 

Yep, just wonderful! I know I am not alone. It has been a devastating flu, cold, and Covid season this winter, with so many people sick. Many have been seriously ill, and even hospitalized. My prayers go out to all those suffering right now. Spring can’t get here fast enough, that’s for sure.

 

Still, as I sat there bundled up in my recliner for yet another sick day, I was just plain weary of my Covid-induced isolation. I’m tired of being stuck here in this house. Friends, can I just tell you that I am sick of being sick?.  

 

As I ruminated on my circumstances, I was reminded of the story of the ten lepers in Luke17:11-19. Leprosy in Jesus’ time meant total isolation. Lepers were completely ostracized from society, barred from all normal human interaction. There was no treatment, no cure, no hope for restoration. Can you imagine how horrible their lives must have been? 

 

My isolation was for a few days, their isolation was for a lifetime. I have access to medications to treat my symptoms. They had nothing.

 

When Jesus saw the ten lepers standing at a distance, he took pity on them. When they begged for healing, he heard their plea Luke 17:12-13). With a word, He sent them to the priest, and as they went, their wounds were healed (v. 14).

 

But here’s the part of the story that grabbed my attention in the middle of my Covid-induced pity party. Ten men were healed of a debilitating illness that day. Ten men were given a new lease on life. With a grace-filled word of Jesus, ten men found hope once more.

 

How did those ten men respond to Jesus’ miraculous gift of healing? We don’t know what nine of them did, because only one cleansed leper returned to thank Jesus (Luke 17:15-16). Only one out of ten lepers felt compelled to show gratitude for the incredible  gift bestowed upon them..

 

Gratitude…it’s an attitude we pay lip service to often, but how well do we live it day-by-day? It’s easy to offer up praises of thanksgiving when the sun is shining and all is right with the world. But what about when things aren’t going well? Where’s our gratitude when times are hard, when suffering strikes, when trouble knocks at our door? I knoe the verse, “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18, NIV). But my question is, did he really mean “all circumstances”?

 

Wallowing in my sick-bed, or sick-recliner as it were, I pondered the state of my soul. A recent devotion about gratitude by author Karen Wingate* came to mind. To adopt a gratitude attitude, Karen proposes that no matter what circumstance we may find ourselves in, we can grow our gratitude muscles by making a list of ten things we are thankful for about that particular situation.

 

Hmmm…could I find ten things to be thankful for about being stuck in my house with Covid? Yep, I could. I started with the hot tea I was sipping, then moved onto the kind husband who made my hot tea and brought it to me. I gave thanks for the medicines available to ease my symptoms, and kept right on going to my tenth reason to be grateful, the sun streaming in through my window.    

 

While it’s easy to complain, finding reasons to be grateful wasn’t hardeither. The added bonus for this exercise was that in listing all the things I was grateful for, I ended up feeling better. I know The Lord was happy that I stopped my pity party and started praising Him instead. I’m pretty sure my husband was glad about that too.

 

“Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever” (Psalm 106:1, NIV). Turning our “grumpies” into grateful” is an exercise worthy of time and effort, not just when we are sick, but every day, in all circumstances. Even on our hardest days, there are countless reasons to give thanks. 

 

It’s Monday morning, and I am happy to report that the sun is shining, my isolation has ended, and I am feeling much better. That’s three things on the list for this morning. Only seven more to go on my gratitude list. How about you? Can you find ten things you are grateful for this morning?

 

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“Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.””

Luke 17:19 – NIV

 

PRAYER

O Lord Jesus, forgive us when we throw our pity parties and feel sorry for ourselves. Help us to stop grumbling and complaining, and start thanking and praising. Thank You for healing our bodies, our minds, and most importantly, our souls. Help us to take stock of our blessings every day and send all the praises Your way!

In the Gracious Name of Jesus, we pray,

Amen

 

Blessings,

Anita

 

*Karen Wingate is the author of many excellent devotions published by Proverbs 31 Ministries as well as multiple books including “With Fresh Eyes,” “With Open Ears,” and  “grateful Heart.:” learn more about Karen at karenwingate.com

-APS 3/10/2025