THE COUGH

I coughed.  No big deal.  The weather had been crazy and the cough was the result of weather.  Now, don’t get ahead of the story.  I went to the doctor, took meds, and got a chest X-ray.  I do not have pneumonia.  That was great to hear.  BUT

I am still coughing.  This is not a polite, little cough that you can hide behind a 3-ply Kleenex.  It is loud.  And sometimes lasts for an eternity.  I do not know when I will cough.  At night it is worse and I am way short on sleep.  BUT sleep is not my biggest problem.

UNLESS I AM GOING TO THE DOCTOR, I AM STAYING HOME.  I missed my Memoir Writing group.  I told them I was trying to cough my head off and if that happened during the meeting, it would be traumatic.   Imagine sitting there and a head flying across the table.  Of course, it could make for an interesting writing topic:  How Did You Feel When Mary Lost Her Head?

I attend a book club. There are only five of us, but that means we each get to discuss our thoughts.  Except, I read the book, I had comments I wanted to make and questions I wanted ask.  I stayed home.  I missed my book club.  They discussed without me.  

I teach Sunday School and we are finishing the last of the Book of Romans.  Someone else taught the class.  I stayed home.  I didn’t want them to run out of the room when I did my first coughing session.  I miss Sunday School.  They are one of my support systems.  I know they included me in their prayers.

AND I MISSED WORSHIP SERVICE!  I missed torturing those around me as I sang. (Let’s just say I cannot carry a tune even if I had a bucket.)  I missed bowing my head and holding Bill’s hand as prayers were said.  I missed hearing a message.  I missed talking with friends.  I stayed home.  If I had started coughing, think how that would have sounded on the video.  The minister would not stand a chance against my cough.  

I am writing this on Sunday morning, sitting on the porch, and wondering about this next week.  What do I have scheduled?  Will I be able to attend meetings and activities? 

 

UNLESS I AM GOING TO THE DOCTOR I STAY HOME —-

Yes, I have a point.  My question:  What keeps us from doing what we are supposed to do?  How would you answer these questions?

I do not go to church because __________.

I do not volunteer at the Thrift Store because __________.

I do not reach out to my neighbors because __________.

I do not read the Bible because __________.

I do not pray because ________.

The list could go on.  

And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭4‬:‭18‬-‭20‬ ‭

My point is what holds you back and what are you missing?  What keeps you from being “fishers of men?”

PS. I am on a second round of meds and my cough is under control.  I am going out.  I will go to church.  My head is still attached.