Thoughts from the Sick Room
November 3rd, 2007 by natalie
Yesterday I almost died. Well, maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but I awoke at 6:40 a.m. with a start and became immediately aware of a horrible sick feeling. I spent the next 24 hours in various stages of sickness – I’ll spare you the details – and thought all kinds of profound thoughts throughout the day that I thought I’d share with you.
Will I ever feel (or look) good enough to leave the house again?
Go to now, ye that say, To day or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. (James 4:13-14)
How could I have ever wished for a day of being sick so that I could catch up on things that needed to be done? (I was absolutely worthless all day.)
I wonder if I’ve lost weight?
I think I’d rather be fat.
O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. (Romans 7:24-25)
I wonder if this is what morning sickness is like, except that it lasts for two months instead of 24 hours?
Adoption is definitely an option worth considering someday.
I don’t think I’ll ever be able to eat again.
I’m such a wimp.
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away…And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. (Revelation 21:1,4)
I have the best family ever. (They kept saying “poor Natalie” and asking if they could get me anything or do anything for me. Mom acted the part of secretary, taking phone calls and canceling my appointments. Later she gave me a vigorous back rub to help relieve some of the pain. Dad and Joey picked up items I requested at the store. They took such good care of me.)
I’ll never be as good of a Mom as my Mom. (I am utterly incapable of being in the same room as someone who is throwing up, let alone standing right behind them and holding a cold cloth to their forehead. I’m what you call “a sympathetic puker.”)
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18)
There are people all over the world who live daily with sickness, disease and persecution far beyond what I’m experiencing.
But I still can’t make myself get off the couch and do something productive.
At least this was a good time to get sick – minimal appointments and scheduled activities.
I am SO grateful for the good health that I regularly experience.
I hope it’s a very long time before I get sick again.
I should write something about this on my blog so that everyone can commiserate with me. 
Awww, poor Natalie! I had no idea you had been sick, though I wondered what you had been doing of late since I hadn’t been in touch for awhile. Guess now I know!
Hope you are well on your way to recovery by now. There is no question about it. Being sick just stinks.
So did you have the flu or what?! I usually get a mild stomach flu at least once a year. Last time I was really sick was last April right at Easter. In fact, I missed our church’s Easter service because I was so sick. Stayed in bed all day long and read books. I even finished two of them. It was kinda’ fun.
Well, okay not THAT fun. I did have a fever and I ached everywhere, and I had some pretty heavy chills. I learned that an aural thermometer is not a reliable means for checking one’s temperature. Mine registered over 104 deg a few times. It probably wasn’t accurate. 
Well, guess I better be doing some serious praying for you. Hope you are resting well now and being comforted by the Lord’s tender care.
Make sure you drink plenty of fluids. You don’t want to end up in the hospital needing IV fluids.
I am sure your mom has been taking excellent care of you since she is a nurse and the servant in the family. Maybe you’ll appreciate the servant’s gift more fully after this. 
I will be thinking of you and praying for you.
God bless,
Lydia
I like this post! Some of the thoughts are pretty funny! It sort of makes me “sick” to remember that torturous day.
I’m so HAPPY! HAPPY! HAPPY! Everyone is feeling better.:) I don’t know what I would do if you guys were still sick? I THINK I’d be going CRRAAZY!
Love Ya!
Naomi
Thanks for commiserating with me, Lydia! Yes, definitely the flu, but much improved now. See, I always imagine that I can spend a day of sickness casually laying around reading books…haha. I barely made it through one short section in my devotional book and could only take one chapter of an audio book before I had to turn even that off. Other than that, I was just sprawled in misery on the couch, the floor, the bed, etc. trying to find some level of comfort. Noelle was sick too and said that either I had it worse or was just taking it harder. I say I definitely had it worse.
Yes, my nurse Mom did take great care of me. Thanks for your additional tips as well. And actually, I’ve always had a great appreciation for servers – I can get away with not doing nearly as much work when they’re around. (Tends to make them feel very inadequate when others are doing more work than them, you know…)
Thanks for your thoughts and prayers!
~natalie
Naomi…
going crazy??