It's easy to take so much of our everyday lives for granted—particularly how our bodies work. It's hard to be grateful and intentional no matter how hard you might try to keep things in perspective.
I think it's a part of human nature to sort of accept, and then expect, these things we take for granted—like our breathing, our sense of smell, or our eyesight. We use these things constantly, nearly every minute of every day that they've become commonplace for us—we sort of think it's the norm for these things to all work.
But sometimes they fail us.
When Jesus said, "It is the Spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail," (John 6:63) I really paused there and felt it. Because while our bodies will perish, and our souls will live on, we live in our bodies right now. We want them to work, and we sometimes just expect that they will. Or at least, I do.
But it's the Spirit Who gives life—and I imagine, life in full. Even when your body isn't working as well as you would have hoped.
When we have our health, when things are working, we can be grateful. And we can try to see how we can use our bodies to glorify God and love His people—like through making dinner for a friend who just welcomed a baby or lost a baby.
When things are more challenging as they may be for you now, when we realize we can't always control what's going on with our bodies, it's the Spirit we need, the entire Trinity Who will help us through and give us life—most importantly, life with Christ.
He might also send over a friend with a meal.
Keep your eyes open for opportunities that present themselves to send a food gift card via Amazon or drop off a casserole. Be God's hands and feet to help a friend in a time of transition or suffering.
Annie Deddens is a writer and producer. She runs a prayer ministry with her husband, called Pray More Novenas. She has a heart for the sick & suffering, and she writes about living with greater faith (hope & love, too) in this imperfect world as a Catholic wife. You can find out more about her here.
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