What I Learned from Four Weeks of the Flu

I learned that it was such a comfort that friends and family just accepted our ups and downs without judgment.  Some days we felt almost normal, then suddenly out of nowhere a fever would take us down.  Or just weakness.  No one belittled us.  This made me want to show compassion for others even if I don’t understand their situation completely.  

“accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.”  Romans 15:7

I learned that I don’t have as many friends as I thought, but I sure appreciate the ones who cared enough to check in, sympathize, and distract us with emails, calls, and texts.  We felt loved.  Made me realize that I have a responsibility to be a true friend by reaching out when my friends are in a hard place.

“Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.”  Jesus in John 13:34

I was reminded that there is one Person who never disappoints, never leaves me, never forgets me.

“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.  For I am the Lord your God, who upholds your right hand, who says to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you’.  Isa. 41:10,13

I was reminded that Husband is the best earthly gift God has given me.  My husband is my hero.  Even when he was sick, he helped me and kept me company.  We had so many good talks.  We talked about the Bible.  We talked about old friends, memories of when we first met, and places we’d lived.  (28). Daily we thought about friends who have lost spouses and are living alone.  Made me appreciate Husband and made me reach out to some of our single friends.

“A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”  Ecclesiastes 4:12

I learned that God isn’t disappointed in me.  Even when I can’t do much.  He accepts me unconditionally because all my wrongs have already been taken away by Jesus.  He sees me as his beloved child who he takes by the hand and is leading along to a better place.  He sees me as the person he is forming me to be.  Read more here.

“The Lord is like a father to his children,
    tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
 For he knows how weak we are;
    he remembers we are only dust.”  Psalm 103:13-14

I was reminded that family is a gift from God.  Our adult children cheered us up with phone calls, FaceTime, texts, and cute videos of their children or dog.  This was a huge lift during boring, lonely days.  Husband’s parents and sister were good conversationalists, too.  Interaction and laughter is wonderful medicine.  We appreciate our family even more than before.

“If the Lord Jesus is willing, I hope to send Timothy to you soon for a visit. Then he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along.”  Philippians 2:19

I understand better what the elderly face long term.  Isolation, discouragement, weakness.  It made me want to help them.

I learned that I’m not indispensable.  Things went along just fine without me.  Reminds me of the wise counsel a veteran missionary gave us years ago when we were feeling guilty about changing assignments.  He said, “When you leave it’s just like you had your hand in a bucket of water and you pulled it out.  The water fills in and it’s like your hand was never there.”  This might be a little overstated, but the fact is, no one is indispensable.  (Except Husband in my life.)

I learned to savor and give thanks for little things.  The snow falling.  Robins scouring our lawn for a meal.  The changing clouds.  A hot cup of tea.

I learned to be thankful for the big things.  Food in the refrigerator.  A warm house.  Indoor plumbing.   We thought a lot about folks who are sick and suffering without clean water, comfortable housing, and a safe environment.  I thought often of my sisters in Christ in China who are in prison for their faith.  Made me eager to keep giving to those who have less than we do.

“Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?”  James 2:15-16

I appreciate technology even more because it opened our small world to family and friends who can’t be physically present.  It also opens a world of education and entertainment.  I watched a lot of tutorials!  It made me understand why the sick or old watch a lot of TV.

I learned that we can give love just by giving our time and attention.  Sometimes that’s the only action that is necessary.  We couldn’t do things for others this month, but we could check on friends who were experiencing hard circumstances.  We could cheer others on with a text or call.  We were often on the receiving end of getting the time and attention of others and it felt good.  

I was reminded that I work for a kind Boss.  God isn’t taking away points when I can’t work.  He understands my weakness.  He’s gentle and compassionate.  So I learned to cut myself some slack, too.  I accepted my limitations instead of beating myself up for not being to do everything I wanted.  Made me want to be more gracious to others when they don’t live up to my expectations.

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30

I learned that when your body is low, it’s hard to feel motivated about the future.  But by recognizing the connection between health and ambition,  I gave myself grace and knew soon I would be making big plans again.  This reminded me that people with poor nutrition or poor health care can’t be expected to be ambitious.  I must be careful not to judge them.

I’m sure you know people who are sick, or old, or lonely or going through hard times.  Who do you need to reach out to?  

P.S.  If you want to give to those in China whose family members are imprisoned for their faith, I highly recommend China Aid.