Tummy Bug

God is so faithful.  Sometimes we receive his blessings in the most menial of tasks.

I received a call at school on Monday afternoon.  Alyssa was sick and needed to be picked up from school.  I called Cris (currently Stay-At-Home-Dad) to pass on the message, only to find out that Daniel has been sick since morning.  He texts me a list of items to get from the store- Pedialyte, Powerade, and Pepto Bismol.  I can't wait to get off work and get home!

Before I even get home, I begin praying.  I'm not a huge fan of smelly body fluids and messes related to them, so I know I'm in WAY over my head.  A song comes on the radio, and then sticks with me all evening- "Strong Enough" by Matthew West.

When I do get home, all three of my family members are now ill.  I begin a marathon of comforting and cleaning up one, and then repeating with the next, and so on.  The washing machines and bath water seemed to be running for hours!  The cycle didn't seem to end.  When I finally had a moment when everyone was resting, I had laundry to change out or fold, carpets to clean up, and bedding to change out.

I'm not saying I enjoyed the evening, or that I even got a good night's sleep afterwards, but I never reached that overwhelmed frustration point that is usually inevitable.  I also know it was NOT because of my own strength I was able to lovingly, patiently care for my family throughout the evening.  It was ONLY with the help of God I could pull this off!

I'm thankful that my family is healthy again.  I'm thankful for God's help in the process and the reminder of his work in our lives.  

The simple, powerful words that kept playing over in my mind (lyrics to "Strong Enough):

You must, You must think I'm strong
To give me what I'm going through

Well forgive me
Forgive me if I'm wrong
But this looks like more than I can do
On my own

I know I'm not strong enough to be
Everything that I'm supposed to be
I give up
I'm not strong enough
Hands of mercy won't you cover me
Lord right now I'm asking you to be
Strong enough
Strong enough
For the both of us

Well, maybe, maybe that's the point
To reach the point of giving up
Cause when I'm finally
Finally at rock bottom
Well, that's when I start looking up

Cause I'm broken
Down to nothing
But I'm still holding on to the one thing
You are God
and you are strong
When I am weak

I can do all things
Through Christ who gives me strength
And I don't have to be
Strong enough
Strong enough