Sick

“Sick and tired.”

“Worried sick.”

“That makes me sick.”

“Sick at heart.”

We use the word “sick” to mean lots of things.  At work, we have sick days, but we also have personal leave chargeable to sick leave.  When we sign into our program that records our absences, it’s actually called “personal illness.”  I’m using a sick day but there’s no personal illness. I don’t have a cold. I do have  a sore throat.  I don’t have the flu, but I do feel achy all over.    I also  have a hurting arm/shoulder/neck thing that required a muscle relaxer and a pain pill – which doesn’t lead to a clear head. (And I’ve had 3 weeks without good sleep, which is not conducive to being a good teacher.)  And I’m sick and tired. And I’m worried sick. And I’m sick at heart. And there are things that make me sick.  

A wise man once said “Hope deferred makes the heart sick.”  I’m wondering if my mental state is affecting my physical state.  We all know that the mind is a powerful thing, right?? Is my physical distress a  result of my mental distress?

I have a friend who is going through a difficult time – but she’d going through with grace and dignity. I have another friend who is taking care of a sick mother –it’s been a rough year and a half for her. She can’t even spell dignity, but she’s managing.  I know all these people who have much bigger issues than I do, but I’m feeling overwhelmed and wimpy and frustrated and nervous and powerless.  All together, it makes me feel sick!

But, in the same place I found that hope deferred makes the heart sick. I read this “A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance.”  And this: “All the days of the afflicted are evil, But he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast.” And best of all, this: A merry heart does good, like medicine.”

So right now, I’ll fall asleep, because of that pain pill. But later, I’ll put my arm in my stupid little sling, and head off to hang out with, bond with and worship with ladies from my church, (and several 1000 of our closest friends!) and trust that the medicine from the Great Physician can fix my “sick.”