Reminded how wonderful health is…

Prayer Request : Monday April 4th – Joseph has a scheduled chemo treatment of his spine and central nervous system. He will have a day of fasting and we would request prayer for him to have a safe and effective treatment as well as grace for his time of fasting.

IMG_2242
Joseph with his Easter nest

A few days ago Joseph’s two older bothers both were sick during the night at the same time. It would be 3:30 am before they were able to go to sleep. The whole time that this was going on Joseph was blissfully sleeping. The next day both boys were doing much better and we were wondering if Joseph would get whatever it was. A couple of days went by and everyone seemed to be healthy. It appeared that once again Joseph had remained well when all those around him were sick. But then last night not long after dinner Joseph came up to me and said in his cheerful voice, “Daddy, I’m going to be sick tonight.” Right.. he looked fine and he sounded fine and we checked his temperature and that was fine. Kate and I talked it over and wondered if this to get some of the extra attention his older brothers had gotten a few days before. We continued on with our routine and I was reading to the boys from the Bible while they were settling down in their beds – when suddenly Joseph cried out, “Daddy, I don’t feel well” and I jumped up while he ran to the bathroom. Sure enough he was sick.  Any time something like this happens with Joseph you have to check for fever and it could be a rush to the hospital. But there was no fever, so I put him in bed with me and watched him in the night to make sure he was ok – taking his temperature every few hours. By this morning he was doing well – and seemed to make a full recovery. About mid-morning he was sitting on the sofa and fell fast asleep. He just curled up like a kitten and slept until lunch. He ate his lunch and dinner well and is now fast asleep with his brothers.  We will get up early in the morning to go to the clinic for a blood test and if all is well then he will fast the day and in the afternoon have his chemo treatment of his spine and central nervous system.

Such a mundane thing as having an upset tummy can tempt us to have many concerns for Joseph. But Joseph’s health is not an intrusion into real life – rather it is real life intruding into our existence, helping us to see the amazing gifts that God blesses us with every moment. It reminds me of what Jesus told His disciples:

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on.  For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.  Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!  And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!  And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried.  For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Luke 12: 22- 31 (ESV)

One thought on “Reminded how wonderful health is…

  1. God bless you, Joseph! It’s a blessing to see how you are thriving. May your presence always draw people closer to the Lord.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *