By Lois Hewitt

Over the last few weeks I have been dealing with a little bit of a health issue.  Each day I felt myself grow just a little weaker.  I kept going, doing what I needed, but each day it was a little harder.

Then the other day, I was just too exhausted. Then I realized that I had taken my health for granted.

We do that so many times in life. And slowly the signs show up but it is easier to ignore them.

For me….

The bills got harder to pay but my excuses for spending did not stop.

My food addiction grew worse but my inclination to do better did not materialise.

My drinking become a little more frequent but I just did not care any longer.

My depression grew deeper but I did nothing to change it.

Then it all fell apart and I was left wondering why on earth had this happened to me.  Clueless to my VERY active part in my own demise.

I took it all for granted. I had so much, too much in reality, and I flushed most of it down the drain.

Human nature tends to accept the gifts while avoiding the costs.  I knew in the far regions of my mind, one day I would have to pay the piper.  Since it wasn’t that day, I kept going in a downward spiral.

Fast forward and I’m better.  I am more self-aware and I’m grateful.  But I missed, or chose to ignore, the signs of my impending health issue.

I am eating better, sleeping regularly, filling my soul daily with God’s word and I thought this could not happen.

But it did.  The issue came out of nowhere and I was shocked.

The reality is that I should have been shocked that I thought never again would I have an issue because I was doing everything I thought was right.

Things happen out of nowhere with no hint or preview.  Some times you can see the eventuality of a situation, such as I did in my previous life.  Some times we are going a long and it hits us.

Does it mean God is punishing me for something? No.  Did I bring it on myself? No.  Can I blame God?  No.

I believe, for myself, that I was in a pool full of complacency. I was in my comfort zone, that little bubble I so desire to live in.

This woke me up and jump started my life a bit.  I see areas that need improvement. In the meantime, I have a few tests to have done and will go from there.

But if I set my eyes on Jesus and pray, I can rest assured His plan is greater than mine.

I pray for healing, of course, but more importantly I pray for His peace and an unwavering gratitude for all His gifts.  No longer do I want to take those for granted.

No matter how this situation goes, I want my eyes on Jesus and my heart in His hands.