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I was thinking about how bad it feels to be sick. Whether suffering from a serious illness or a common cold, being sick can trap us in our own life and in our own discomfort, and it's really hard to think beyond our immediate misery. We just want to be well again; we don't want to feel bad anymore. The same can be said when we're hurt or dealing with emotional pain. And yet, there are amazing men and women who live with pain everyday, and they move forward in loving ways by transcending their pain and looking beyond themselves.
I am inspired by my friend, who I'll call Sara, who suffers from kidney disease, often needs to carry around an oxygen tank, and can't eat typical foods at get-togethers with friends. She is a loving aunt, a thoughtful friend, an insightful Christian, and a talented writer. She gives her life to God in her circumstances and cares for others. She has the courage and strength to live outside of herself. I wonder... if I had even a fraction of the suffering that she endures on a daily basis, could I do what she does?
Even though I thank God for the many blessings He gives me, how often I take them for granted. Oh, if my faith were to be put to the test... that is a hard thought!
In Wisdom 9, Solomon says, "for a perishable body weighs down the soul, and this earthy tent burdens the thoughtful mind."
Blessed are they who suffer whose souls transcend their "earthy tents" as they raise their lives to God and live outside themselves. Blessed be Sara and everyone who struggles with illness, pain, and the many other burdens of this life, and yet live with love to build God's kingdom.
My bible has a teaching note that states: "When we choose to accept our suffering, God will transform this suffering into a positive witness." I am grateful for the positive witnesses in my life and in the world around me. Thank you, God, for their example. Help me to be more like them.
