Boy am I feeling good today! I woke up happy, jumped out of bed, and cleaned most of the upstairs of our house. Then I vacuumed most of the upstairs carpet. I took my wife's coin jar, all rolled in nice neat rolls to the bank to deposit it, saving her the hassle of going to the bank. Then I brought back breakfast sandwiches and coffee for her. I am still grinning ear to ear as I write this, listening to Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries" and annoying my wife with my overly good humor. All this week I have been sick with some virus, which I shared with Dave, and then Dave or I shared with Deniese. Even a friend from work who foolishly came to see me this week also got a healthy dose of the sickies.

I wouldn't want to suggest you should get sick so you can feel good, but that's what happened. There I was, kind of plodding along with work, family, sleep, when suddenly I got sick. When I was hungry, I took a bite and almost immediately wanted no more. When I was thirsty, I would pour a glass of cool, clean water and it just didn't taste right. My nose ran so much it could have won the Boston marathon. I felt weak, tired, unmotivated, blah! I sure hate being sick! Taking aspirin and sinus medicine helped, but they don't "cure" the pain they just kind of mask it. I sought other types of relief like breathing steam and my wife putting a hot pad on my neck. Finally I went to the doctor who gave me what I needed, and immediately I felt better, right?

Nope. My body was still busy being sick. But you know, as I took those pills I slowly, at first, then rapidly, at the end, got better! I didn't need anything other than some rest, a little quiet, and a little time for the medicine to do its thing.

Obviously this is a lot like us! We are "sick" with sin, and we may try many types of relief. None of them really "cure" us, they just mask the symptoms for a time. That's what gets people on the wrong path forever, they jump from "cure" to "cure", whatever feels good for a while must be the right thing. Eventually we may ask others for advice, and get more home remedies, but eventually we are going to have to seek out someone who knows what he is talking about and get the right stuff. Even then it, the word of God, doesn't just cure us overnight, not while we still have lives filled with bad habits. But you know, if we give ourselves a little calm, a little quiet, and a little time something amazing happens. At first it starts out slow, and we may even think of giving up, but then it all clicks into place and we start to pick up rapidly! That medicine, the bible, is powerful stuff!

So now I am feeling grand, and to celebrate I am thanking my wife for taking care of me while I was sick by doing good things for her. It sure is easy to do good to others when we are feeling good ourselves. It is easy to be ornery, too - as a matter of fact, the puzzle for bible class today will probably drive some people crazy! I made it extra hard, to make us have to read our bibles all that much more for the answers. A challenge, that is what it is. There's nothing wrong with going from work to family to sleep. We all need a shake up once in a while, though to remind us what we have and help us appreciate it more. Even the weather on this fine Saturday morning seems to feel this way. After a week of gray doom and gloom, a bright sunny day with sunlight dancing off the ice and snow outside is surely a happy, welcome thing.

But even if it was dark, cold, and snowing outside I would still feel good. God healed me, both physically and spiritually, and I feel good. I know where I was, and I know where I am. I'm on a road, my friends, with a gleam in my eye and a song in my heart. Are you there, walking with me?

Matthew 18:13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

Luke 1:46-47 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

Luke 1:57-58 Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.

Luke 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Luke 13:17 And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.

Luke 15:9-10 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

Romans 12:15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

Phillipians 4:4 Rejoice with the Lord always: and again I say Rejoice.

I Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice evermore.

Revelation 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.