I had nowhere to sleep. Completely perplexed and too tired to be logical, I stood in the hallway, pillow in hand. The stomach flu had swept through my house and claimed me in the process. Finally on the mend, I didn’t want to share the bed with my husband who was feeling rotten. My daughter was still in “room quarantine” from her bout with the sickness. I considered my son’s bed. He had long since recovered and returned to school. But right before bedtime, he complained, “My tummy hurts.”
No place to lay my head.
Downstairs was for the well people. My mom slept on the couch while taking care of the baby. I was well, but only just. Did I dare fit in where the air was clean and the people were upright?
I literally stood at the stairs glancing from the doorway of my room to the den below wondering what to do. Where did I fit in?
Sin can make us feel the same. When we walk away from a certain area of sin in our life, it feels strange living life on “the other side.” Yet, we know with sin is sickness. For a while, we may stand in the hallway and wonder which way to go. Do we return to what we know may cause us harm, or do we take a chance and venture in an area full of clean air? Will we fit in?
Like the stomach virus, the thief comes to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. Christ says, “I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)
Take it from me; sleep on the couch. While you are there, take in deep life-cleansing breaths of fresh air and draw strength. You’ll be back on your feet in no time.
Oh, Carol, I'm so sorry your household has been so sick! I'm glad you're on the mend. I pray everyone else will soon be better. Thanks for this great post. Loved the analogy. Thanks for giving us something to think about. Blessings to you!