Is it possible I'm getting old?

I have spent my life pretty much pain free. Then I came home this week from church and my whole right side decides to begin to swell in the joints. My ankle, my knee and my right pointer finger. Then my wife says, it feels like you have a low grade fever. Great. Well, it's Thursday and it really did get some of the best of me. Walking has become a major chore. I hurt.

I am reminded of so many in my life who have gone through life threatening, life taking times and through them all, they have been a pillar of encouragement and grace. I think of Anthony, who finished chemo (good news - he is cancer free) and is now waiting for a new born baby at any time. His life was a reflection of the grace of God. So, while I am going through this little thing, why is it that I am reminded of the difference between major and minor sickness? Minor is what you have and major is what I have.

To often I allow the things and circumstances of life to overcome my walk with Christ. It also takes my eyes of the creator who knit me together in my mothers womb. I guess what I am asking, what does it take to side track you? Major or minor. I found out this week it may not be as big as I thought. But that changes today. Lord, you have me, good and bad. Use me in this time too. On the other side, don't let me forget what you have done now.

Godly Actions Preceed Godly Feelings

I found myself praying again for God to give a feeling of well being toward someone only to be reminded of something I said two weeks ago: Godly Actions Preceed Godly Feelings. But I want God to zap me with the warm fuzzy s. It doesn't work that way. You don't feel yourself in to godly behavior. You do have act yourself that way. It's not as easy.

In other words, sometimes I have to do the thing that i know I should do even when I don't feel like it. And for to experience that feeling, I first have to do the action. For example, I may feel jealous, but if I'm waiting for the feeling of envy and jealousy to go away, it's not going to happen. Sometimes I have to do the act of kindness before I feel kind. And with the very act of being Godly, by the very act of showing kindness, the act of kindness begins to melt away the sin, and it begins to melt away the envy that is within me.

It's not easy to do, but the moment you start being kind to the person you envy, that envy will begin to melt away and you will be happier. There's an old saying: kill them with kindness. Why not try that this week. Why not try being kind to the person with whom you are struggling. Kill them kindness and watch them squirm. But watch a relationship begin to be healed.