Have you ever had mono?  If you have, you know how tired it can make you feel. You go through your day in a fog. You try to engage in the lives of those around you, but you feel less than there most days. You pretend all is normal as you talk to those you encounter on a daily basis, but those who know you know something is a bit off. Know what?  They are right!  I have mono. I’ve had mono for four months now and I’m so over this feeling. The guy at the grocery store last week asked what was wrong and I told him I’d been sick for a while and not feeling well. He noticed. The next week the other cashier asked what I was cooking that night for dinner and wondered why I hadn’t tried her new bean recipe. She noticed. I thought about cleaning my house really well, but I was tired. My family noticed (and helped greatly, by the way). I thought about writing quite a bit this week, but I was tired.  Have you noticed?

Proverbs 18:14 states, “The spirit of a man can endure his sickness, but as for a broken spirit who can bear it?” (NASB) This verse has been encouraging for me because I have confirmation from God that I can endure this sickness. It will not be the end of me. I do, however, have to choose my attitude. My attitude will affect my spirit and outlook on life. Should I linger on the non-dusted dresser I will be saddened. Should I allow myself to be frustrated on my lack of energy in every part of my daily life, I could quite easily end up broken. Instead, I have done my best to relax and (dare I say) do nothing. This has been hard. I do not like being the parent who sits on the couch barking orders to others. Seriously, you know it’s bad when you ask your kids to get you water from the kitchen less than 10 feet away when you don’t feel like getting off the couch!

So, where does this leave us on our journey together? Are you tired? Have others noticed?  Know others who are tired? Have you noticed?  If we are not personally enduring our own sicknesses, we must help others endure their sicknesses. There are many today who are in need of help around you. It could be your own family that is sick or a neighbor.  What can you do to help them endure their sickness? Can you call and check on them? Make or buy them a meal? Remember, sickness is not limited to a physical illness of mono or flu. We can be sick in any area of our lives.  Let’s not allow ourselves or those around us to sink into a broken spirit. Let’s all continue to endure!

© 2013 Susan M. Sims

Image courtesy of Marin at freedigitalphotos.net

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