teach me

When I was little and sick I was given a weird concoction to make me feel better: hot water, food colouring, milk and sugar. Blue, green, red, yellow or pink tea would be dispensed as if this drink was medicine especially made by the fairies. Once when one of my boys got stung by a whole bunch of wasps, I dipped a cotton ball into white vinegar and dabbed each sting whilst I spoke soothing words. Whether it was the vinegar or the words I am not sure but he felt a whole pile of better afterwards. It was witnessed by a local boy and a few years later, he arrived at my door with his harassed mum wanting the fairy medicine. He had been stung and remembered my tending to the care of my son. A few weeks ago my son got stung by a wasp in church. I didn’t notice and nobody else did either, because he didn’t say anything or make any movement. When he told me afterwards I asked him why not.

“I was praying to God at the time, I figured he would take of it.”

I learn much from my sons about suffering, endurance and perseverance. It is not a passive acceptance or indifference, more an active engagement in faith.

Do not worry about clothes on your back,

The Lord has got your back.

Do not worry about money in the bank,

The Lord will provide, oh yes

Sometimes it takes a simple wasp sting to startle a person, me, to look at my faith, to search my heart. How do I want God to teach me today? How will I hear his voice? What will I learn today from each person I meet, from God, from my family? What situations will I face and how will I react?

This special day, this day the Lord made. What surprises are in for me? How can I show Jesus to everyone I meet?

Do not worry

²² Then Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. ²³ For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. ²⁴ Consider the ravens: they do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!²⁵ Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life^[b]? ²⁶ Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

²⁷ ‘Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labour or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these. ²⁸ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you – you of little faith! ²⁹ And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. ³⁰ For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. ³¹ But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

O Lord, Help me be the fruit of the Spirit in this day. Teach me new things and new ways today. Help me move forward in my faith, my walk with you. Give me strength as I say farewell to the second born. Thank you, Lord, for your healing touch in his life. Amen