The freedom I found in the flu...

Then I opened an email where one of our dear fellow writers shared the heart-wrenching news of a brain tumor with less than encouraging prognosis. Then I remembered another angel of a friend who suffers from Lyme’s disease.

Suddenly, my flu seemed like a mosquito bite. In the midst of my discomfort, I began to pray for these sweet friends.

Now, before you roll your eyes at me. Hear me out. There’s healing when you focus on others, think about their trial, and empathize with their circumstances.

There’s always someone in a better situation and others in worse. So, putting all things in perspective, I gave one sniffle, washed my face and concentrated on God’s grace to pray for my friends.

Changing my focus was the best med I could’ve taken. It was good for my body, my disposition, and me.

Maybe that’s why Jesus said “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34).

Others’ burdens, pain, and trials sometimes have to nudge us from our own grief to seek God’s intervention in their lives.

So, rather than boo hoo for what ailed me, I brought my friends’ burdens before the Lord and found freedom in that, real freedom.

Today, I’m better. Tomorrow, back to work.

And the days that follow, I’ll be on my knees, praying for those friends, acquaintances, and casual contacts for whom I promised to pray.

This particular flu changed my view -- from sickly self-pity to healthy perception.

Janet

(Hoping the flu doesn’t have to teach you that lesson!)

p.s. Thanks so much for all the encouraging comments re my November newsletter. And it’s always so wonderful when on-line publications request some of the material. They wanted to include the "Call Me Crazy" story and the "Closet of Life." (Yeah!)

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