Just Enough

Thanksgiving is over and December is well under way. I just love, love, love, the holiday season.

This year, we did the usual -- had a wonderful dinner with friends. As always, the turkey was the bomb-diggity!!

As I reflect on the year and appreciate my blessings, I find myself being grateful for something a bit unusual. Like most, I'm thankful for having a job (that I love) and for the health and well-being of my beloved. This year, though, I'm thankful for being just sick enough. That's right -- I'm thankful for being sick.

This year, I've suffered through a bad cold (fever, chills, aches), a head cold that caused me to completely lose my voice, and damage to my sciatic nerve and piriformis muscle (it's in your boom-boom). To make matters worse, each of these afflictions struck me at a most inopportune time -- just before a vacation, as I was helping to plan a fundraiser, and during a hectic time at work.

Each time, I recovered fully, with no ill after affects. But, being sick -- or just sick enough -- really allows one to appreciate good health. Oftentimes, I joke, I can't get sick, I don't have time! And, fortunately, God has complied with me. But, this year, it seems I was battling something every 3-4 months.

These bouts with illness and injury, reminded me it is such a blessing to get up each day and have your body respond appropriately. To turn over in bed (with no excruciating pain), yawn and breath deeply (with no nasal obstruction) and say "Good morning" (with no strain on your vocal chords) is a miracle!!

God, in His awesomeness, constructed us in such a way that we are able to do these things with such ease and comfort. It was in my inability to do these things that I had to admire God's genius. So, as I reflect on the passing year, and look forward to the next, I will rejoice and be glad for being just sick enough!

And I will wash my hands and take my vitamins.