When Sickness Keeps You Home

Image by Ambrose Little

This was me this weekend. Ok, so the lady in the pic is not literally me, but this is pretty much how I spent my weekend--including Easter Sunday. 


Just over two weeks ago, both my girls came down with the nasty Norovirus--a really powerful stomach bug. Their symptoms lasted for a full week. Then, they were symptom-free for a week. Then, on Friday, it hit me and Toddler Girl hard. 

Image by mollypop

We were disappointed not to spend Easter Sunday with our church family. In fact, after being up most of the night on Saturday (including my hubby, who took care of us and even rubbed homemade thieves oil on my feet), we slept most of Easter day away. Oh, and we let Little Girl watch the Veggie Tales Easter movie. 


Easter "dinner" (or our version of The Lord's supper?) consisted of saltine crackers and pedialyte. 


But despite my disappointment, I tried to keep things in perspective. I wrote this as my Facebook status: "No egg hunt, Easter baskets, Easter dresses, Easter lunch or worship with our fellow believers this year--but we have Christ the Risen Savior & that's all that matters anyway! Hallelujah--what a Savior!"

Image by S. Reachers

Yes...what a Savior I serve...who gives me grace even when I can't make it to church to worship Him on this most celebratory day. 


A friend referred me to a blog post she had written in 2008, under similar circumstances. Her kids had had chickenpox and all kind of other sicknesses, and she was staying at home with them once again on a Sunday morning--that Sunday being Easter. This quote really hit home:

Image by albemar78

"I forgot to dye eggs or go over any symbolic meaning with the kids. I stayed up almost the entire night before with a sick and uncomfortable babe, and so I was a little fuzzy. We didn't have ham or taters, and all the family didn't make it to church. But being together and waking up to children's delight and reflecting on the hope we have in Christ....well, it was a spiritual experience indeed."


Read the rest of Melanie's insightful post here. 


How was your Easter? In what ways did YOU experience God's grace? 


I'm linking up with: Growing Home, Far Above Rubies, Time-Warp Wife and Raising Homemakers, Deep Roots at Home, The Better Mom, Women Living Well