Older Sister was up bright and early and into the bathroom she strode. After all, this was Christmas break and she didn’t want to waste a minute of it. Suddenly, I heard her scream !
“OH, NO ! I can’t believe it!” She wailed, “NOT THIS!”
As I ran into the bathroom, there she stood. Her face as white as a sheet EXCEPT for the dozens and dozens of bright, red pox that covered her face. As I lifted her pajama top, her back and front were covered! Yes, Older Sister had a wonderful case of the old stinking chicken pox! And, yes, Little Sister enjoyed every minute of that day laughing at her older sibling.
“OH, NO ! I can’t believe it!” She wailed, “NOT THIS!”
As I ran into the bathroom, there she stood. Her face as white as a sheet EXCEPT for the dozens and dozens of bright, red pox that covered her face. As I lifted her pajama top, her back and front were covered! Yes, Older Sister had a wonderful case of the old stinking chicken pox! And, yes, Little Sister enjoyed every minute of that day laughing at her older sibling.
“Boy, do you look funny!” Young Sister laughed, “You’re gonna have those pox ALLLLLLL over your body worse than I do. I can just tell. I can’t wait ‘till your friends hear about how silly you look!”
Yes, Older Sister had missed the chicken pox when she was younger. She waited until she was twelve years old to have them. Nothing…..absolutely nothing could be more humiliating to an Almost Teenager.
Then, I recalled my own bout with the horrid chicken pox. I must have been about nine when I contracted them. I had a very, very bad case; not a place on my body that wasn’t covered and itching terribly. My Mother didn’t have access to anti-itch medicine so her solution was a baking soda bath. Since we only had a # 3 washtub that would have to be carried in and filled with hot water from a tea kettle, I had a sponge bath. So, while I moaned and groaned, Mother would dip the wash cloth into the warm water and gently pat in on my itching skin. It hurt to sit down; hurt to stand up because I had pox on my feet and most of all, it hurt to lie down because I couldn’t be still and every time I moved the pox would itch worse. My hair couldn’t even be combed because my head was covered in those red itchy blotches. I complained loudly and clearly and I’m sure nearly drove my parents wild!
I was very good at complaining………….very good.
Do you complain when you feel badly; when it’s too hot or too cold; when it rains out the ballgame? Do you complain when things don’t go your way or when you have to go to work? Complain because there isn’t enough money at the end of the month; nothing seems to be going the way you think it should and now even the refrigerator has quit!
It is so very easy for us to forget our blessings when something goes wrong on our lives. We forget to thank God for the very fact that we woke up this morning and were able to get out of bed.
God reminds us in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Yes, Older Sister had missed the chicken pox when she was younger. She waited until she was twelve years old to have them. Nothing…..absolutely nothing could be more humiliating to an Almost Teenager.
Then, I recalled my own bout with the horrid chicken pox. I must have been about nine when I contracted them. I had a very, very bad case; not a place on my body that wasn’t covered and itching terribly. My Mother didn’t have access to anti-itch medicine so her solution was a baking soda bath. Since we only had a # 3 washtub that would have to be carried in and filled with hot water from a tea kettle, I had a sponge bath. So, while I moaned and groaned, Mother would dip the wash cloth into the warm water and gently pat in on my itching skin. It hurt to sit down; hurt to stand up because I had pox on my feet and most of all, it hurt to lie down because I couldn’t be still and every time I moved the pox would itch worse. My hair couldn’t even be combed because my head was covered in those red itchy blotches. I complained loudly and clearly and I’m sure nearly drove my parents wild!
I was very good at complaining………….very good.
Do you complain when you feel badly; when it’s too hot or too cold; when it rains out the ballgame? Do you complain when things don’t go your way or when you have to go to work? Complain because there isn’t enough money at the end of the month; nothing seems to be going the way you think it should and now even the refrigerator has quit!
It is so very easy for us to forget our blessings when something goes wrong on our lives. We forget to thank God for the very fact that we woke up this morning and were able to get out of bed.
God reminds us in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
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