The Body

My oldest recently asked me “If you could pick one sense to lose, what would it be?”

If he had asked me the same questions a year ago I would have quickly replied “smell,” but that was until I lost my sense of smell.

One day I was trying to smell something and realized I could not. Looking back, I think it was gradual because my daughter complained several times about my toddler’s stinky diapers but it didn’t register that my sniffer was not working the same until the day I sniffed and there was no smell, like NADDA, NOTHING!

I figured it would eventually come back but after doing some research, I found out this was a symptom of covid-19 and that it’s not always coming back. (Although I have none of the other symptoms and have not had a positive test for covid.)  So recently I started olfactory training by smelling lemon, rose, eucalyptus and cloves for 20 seconds a day. I’m praying this works.

During this “adventure,” my taste has really suffered too. Doctors say this has to do with the fact that taste and smell are intricately connected. Whatever the reason, this all stinks. (pun intended)

I can’t tell whether food has spoiled because I can not smell it. I can’t smell hot smells or fires. I don’t know when to change my son’s diapers because I can’t tell that he pooped. I can’t tell if I smell bad or if my towels smell bad or if my kids smell bad. I have no sense of smell and until now I had no idea that my sniffer was so valuable.

Confession time: Yep, I am THAT mom who sometimes has to wash the same load 3 or 4 times because of leaving them in the washing machine. …and so yes I have been having my 6 year old smell the clothes. ☹

…oh and did I mention that it’s almost autumn when all the smells are beautiful. ☹ I WANT IT BACK!!!!!!!

I will be very thankful when/if I can smell again. Yet this has been a valuable lesson to me.

1 Corinthians 12 says “or the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked. That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

I totally get this passage! Even though I always took my nose for granted I now see how valuable it was and is.

It’s so easy to lift ourselves up and think we are the heart or the lungs of the body and overlook the earlobe or the gallbladder BUT every part of the body is necessary and when one member suffers we all suffer. Paul reminds us that there should be no divisions but instead we should give each member the same care.

The superstar member should get the same care as the annoying member, the awkward member or even the “seemly useless” member. We are ONE body and so we all either suffer or we all thrive.

We are all so gifted and yet we are all so different. We were created to be the sanctified “US.”

Unique.

Awkward.

Different.

Yet GIFTED and VALUABLE.

Let’s not take each other for granted but encourage and lift up each other so we can be all we were created for.

-Joy

The Wail of A Broken Heart

Have you ever heard the wail of a broken heart?

A heart that has been broken by a child? A heart that has been torn by a careless spouse? A heart that has poured out its love, only to be forsaken and scorned by the recipient of so much devotion.

I have heard this wail too many times.

I remember as a young girl, hearing my own mother wail over the sins of her own child.

As a pastor’s wife, a daughter and friend, I have all too often heard this cry.

It is one of intense grief.

It is so full of agony that it bring pain to anyone listening.

This is the wail of the brokenhearted.

Ladies, I am reminded today that SIN HURTS.

It doesn’t just hurt the sinner, it hurts all those around her.

You see the hurt in the child’s face when she talks about her parent’s divorce. If the only man in her life who should naturally love her, can leave her, then will any other man be willing to stay?

You hear the sob of a mother who has been shamed by the sin of her child.

You can’t fathom the brokenness of a young beautiful woman being kicked out of her home when pregnant, because her husband wants to bring his new girlfriend home.

But these people aren’t the only ones hurting. There were also siblings, children, friends, and pastors that surround these situations and are hurt too.

We MAY think we can control our sin habit. You may think that you are just having a little fun. You may think that you are in control, but that SIN is really in control.  One day you’ll wake up and realize that it’s killing you as well as all those around you.

Sin is evil.

It’s vile.

It will take you farther than you ever thought you would go and deeper than you wanted to go.

I have heard the wails. I have seen the heartbreak.

So please, please PLEEEEEEASE! Wake up!!!!!!!!! It’s not something to joke around about. It’s not a small little little thing. Sin will never be controlled!  Anything that God says NO to, SAY NO to, louder!!!  Sin is not cute and it’s definitely not attractive. It’s disgusting!

Come back to God!  He is waiting to wash you. He is waiting to heal you and the hearts you have broken. If you are still breathing, then God can cleanse you and heal your loved ones. Come before its too late! …because, dear one, one day, it WILL be too late. – Joy

Rest

At the moment I started this blog post, I was sitting on my bed with a blanket over my legs. I was resting and renewing my body and my mind.

Let me give you a little insight.

I am a mom.

… a mom of a 4 month old, 3 year old and a 5 year old.

*therefore I’m tired

I am a home-school mom

*which means I give my mind as well as my body

I am a pastor’s wife, a daughter, an aunt, a sister, a counselor, a teacher and a friend.

I am exhausted!!!!!!!!

…sometimes I just don’t have one more ounce to give! …and I recently told this to a close friend of mine.

She listened and then a few days later called me up and let me know she wanted to come over. She has a teenager daughter and they offered to come over and play with my kiddos.

I was sent to rest and renew while she entertained my kids.

It was this morning for just a few hours. ..but it was REST! I am was not cleaning, cooking, teaching or giving!

I was resting with the knowledge that my kids were being loved on and cared for while I just rested.

It was such a gift!

For those of you who have older teens, this could really be a ministry to a weary momma. For those of you who have pre-teens this might be a good experience for them to learn to care for little kiddos, as a mother’s helper.

For other weary mommas out there, hang in there. Trade kid care with another weary mom, ask your husband to take them for a few hours so that you can care for you. Pray for relief. Open up to your friends. Let them know where you are.

I pray that you each get rest as I did today.

Rejoicing,

Joy