Being a good sick person is not my forte. In fact, I am not a good sick person at all. I don’t like being sick and I tend to get angry when I am sick because as I said, I just don’t like it. I don’t have time for it and I have too much to do to have to stay in bed for a few days.
But it is not up to me. If it were, I would never ever be sick in anyway. Truth of the matter is that we are not in control no matter how much we want to think we are.
Friday morning began as a typical day. I even walked over a mile and then had my cup of hot tea while doing my morning devotional before having to get ready for work. I felt really good and seemed to have more energy than usual so I was hopeful it was going to be a really good day.
I made myself a protein shake before leaving the house for work, earlier than normal. This was a new brand, which I haven’t tried before but it tasted okay. I drank it on the way to work.
Everything was fine until about a little after nine. My stomach became very bloated and was cramping profusely. No matter whether I stood up, sat down or walked around, there was no difference in how it felt. The pain was so debilitating, I could not concentrate on writing, nor could I keep still. I finally gave up and went home after lunch in hopes that perhaps lying down would help the pain. It didn’t.
I called my mom to pray. She did and for a couple of hours the pain was bearable but around six it came back full force. I was trying not to have to go to the emergency room but after trying to go to bed to sleep I could not handle the pain so got hubby up to take me to the ER.
I left it up to him where to go because at that point I didn’t care as long as someone did something about the pain. Because Medical Center of Peach is just a hop, skip and a jump from our house he went there. Having worked at the hospital when it was in Fort Valley, I knew emergency room stats and a Friday night is not a good night because they are usually crowded and I was praying I could hold on until they could see me.
God answered that prayer as they were not busy and took me back within 10 minutes. The nurse, Eric, was very professional and very kind and compassionate. The care I received was excellent for the most part. I had been hearing negative things about Peach but my experience was far from anything I had heard. In fact, I would definitely go back if the need arose but hopefully it won’t. The doctor on call was not good at keeping you informed of what was going on and test results but the nurse made up for that shortfall.
They didn’t really get any answers for sure but are treating it with antibiotics and I have to watch what I eat for a while. I was already doing that and only eating limited things but now that list is a lot shorter.
Sometimes God slows us down when we don’t slow ourselves down. I got that message. I am not as young as I used to be and should not constantly push myself to be involved in things and to do things. Sometimes too, the enemy distracts us with things and keeping us busy. We are fighting spiritual battles and it seems the battles have come more frequently since I began teaching a Bible study group on prayer. But I intend on standing firm, fighting the battle on my knees and letting God do the rest.
The one thing I like about social media is that you can ask for prayer and get many people praying for you, and there is unity in prayer. I am so appreciative and thankful to those who pray when the call goes out. It does make a difference.
If not for that fact and the fact that I can encourage someone, I would give up on social media all together. That thought crosses my mind when I read something stupid or negative or that is bashing someone or when someone airs dirty laundry. Or when I respond to something, giving my opinion and someone ends up blasting me. I try not to respond but some things are so ludicrous I can’t stop myself at times. I am working on that though, because you just can’t reason with an unreasonable person, and if you can’t express an opinion without someone bashing it, then it is just better to not respond. The one thing I will stand up for though is my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and if people bash me for it, then so be it.
There comes a time when we have to stand for something and we need to be prepared; know what we will stand for and what we won’t. These days people are pushing the limits further and further and our personal rights get trampled on in the name of one thing or the other. Stand up for what you believe and stand firm. This world is not our home anyway, we are just traveling through it on the way to our heavenly home. Blessings to you all.

VICTORIA SIMMONS is an author, columnist, motivational speaker, minister and publisher of The Georgia Post/Byron Buzz. Contact her at: vsimmons54@gmail.com