Did You Take Your Medicine?

This past week was a rough one at the Tacker house.  This time of year is complete insanity.  Work is crazy. trying to prepare the kids for semester tests when all they can think about is Christmas break is futile at best.  I'm trying to keep up with Jewelry orders and craft shows, finish my own Christmas shopping, go to Holiday dinners, church, etc.  We're tired.  And what always seems to happen when you let yourself get worn down?  You get sick.  And sick we have been!  The boys and I can't seem to get over it.  Polly told me my coughing was giving her a headache!  I can't remember the last time I've been this sick for this long. 

Normally, I hate taking medicine.  But this time, I realized this was something I couldn't just beat on my own.  I was going to need a little help to get over this.  So, we've been taking our medicine.  Religiously.  In fact, this morning was the first time I've gotten to go to church in over a week.  That might not seem like a lot, but we usually go 3 times a week!  Even though I still don't feel well, it was great being back in church.  When Polly saw the tray of grape juice during communion, she asked, "Mommy, is that medicine?".  I laughed and said, "No.".  It was so cute.  Then she said something else that really made me think.  She said, "But mom.  It looks like medicine."  I agreed.  Then she said, "Is it medicine that helps you remember Jesus?  Does it help you remember that Jesus lives intoside your heart?"  I don't know if my jaw dropped literally, but I couldn't believe what she said.  I asked her if one of her Sunday school teachers had told her that.  She said no.  She said she just "knew" it. 

Wow!  My little four year got what so many of us, myself included, lose sight during all the hustle and buslte of life.  We go through the motions.  We go to the places we're supposed to go, and do the things we're supposed to do, but we're running on autopilot.  It's like when you drive for a while, and before you know it, you reach your destination but can't remember half of the trip.  It's actally pretty frightening when you think about it.  It's happened to me numerous times, and I always wonder what went on during those times of unconscious consciousness.  And, it doesn't just happen while driving.  It happens when we get too busy living our lives.  I go through the motions at work.  I cook dinner for my family, but can't remember what we ate the next day.  So much of LIFE get's lost in the chaos.  Not only do we forget the importance of Christ living within us, but we forget the even greater calling of showing that to others.  How can we expect people to see Christ in us, if we don't even take time to see Him there ourselves!  So, how do we wake up? 

We do what Polly reminded me to do.  We take our medicine.  Just like my current illness, we can't get rid of the fog on our own.  We need help.  And just like chemical medications, we all react differently to different medications.  This morning, my medication was taking communion in the presence of my daughter.  Some days, its reading, praying, talking, or writing.   Whatever medication I need that day, the results bring healing.  And the healing we get comes from the ultimate healer.  When we allow ourselves to "remember" Him, He wakes us from our daze and brings us back into the fullness of life He intended for us.  And His healing isn't just a temporary fix, it's the ultimate cure. 

Psalm 30:2-3

LORD my God, I cried out to You,And You healed me.
O LORD, You brought my soul up from the grave; You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.

Isaiah 53:4-5


Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken,Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.