Yesterday was a busy day. It started early with a trip to the veterinarian with one of our kitties, Eli. About a week ago I noticed a scab on his belly. It seemed like overnight it was swelled up with infection.
Eli was uncharacteristically grumpy about being touched; he expressed his feelings about being handled with hisses and growls. Just about the time I decided he should go to the vet, the abscess drained on its own, and he was his normal self again.
I was grateful because I think antibiotics should only be used unless really necessary. Eli never acted sick or lethargic so I was comfortable with letting his body fight the infection. I did put some colloidal silver gel on his wound, which is naturally antibacterial.
By the end of the week, it became apparent that wound was healing too slowly; his constant licking has caused sores to develop on the original site of infection. So, Saturday morning we were at the vet’s office for an assessment.
He received a shot of antibiotics which lasts for 2 weeks, and they put him in an Elizabethan collar to keep him from licking his wound. I was instructed that he should wear the collar for 2 weeks; I did my best not to laugh but I think they read the expression on my face. Halfway home Eli removed the collar himself.
The rest of the day was spent disassembling my fish pond, removing the liner, putting in the new liner, rebuilding, and filling it with water. One end of the above ground pond has a waterfall that is built up with loose rocks—very large rocks.
Since my husband was doing other chores, I did most of the work myself. It took all day, but I was successful at completing the project. I worked at it until dark, determined to finish. I instinctively knew that I would be too sore and tired the next day to want to mess with those big rocks.
Sure enough, this morning I awoke with plenty of sore muscles. My tiredness is due in part to restless sleep. Yesterday evening it was obvious that my husband was coming down with a cold. It came on fast with fever and congestion which kept him from resting well, also disturbing my sleep.
We had planned to have a large Easter dinner with our kids today, but my husband was still feverous this morning. We decided to postpone the dinner until next weekend. So, we are spending a quiet day by ourselves. The significance of the day is not diminished but perhaps illuminated by love and compassion with which I feel in caring for my husband.
The quiet time that followed giving my husband bone broth and toast in bed has allowed me an opportunity to write this blog. In between his naps, I will tend to things around the house. Dirty dishes that I was too tired to wash last night wait for me in the sink. Once my husband’s fever breaks, I will change the sheets on the bed.
God’s love and compassion for us is the reason that Jesus came into this world; His sacrifice of His life was so that we could use our free will to choose life over death. It is remarkable to me that Jesus would make such a sacrifice to bear the judgement for the sin of all mankind just so that forgiveness would be available to anyone who recognizes Him as their savior from eternal death and is willing to live their life pursuing a personal relationship with Him.
Jesus’ resurrection 3 days after His death is proof that God alone has the power to guarantee eternal life. It was the ultimate parental sacrifice for His children, knowing that not all would be willing recognize His sacrifice as the ultimate expression of love and invitation to love him back.
So, I find Easter Sunday to be the perfect day to show compassion to others. Although my family is not together today, we acknowledged the significance of Easter, and plan to be together next weekend. Today, I will take care of my sick husband.
I hope your weekend has been a beautiful one, filled with love, caring and compassion. And may your next week be fantastic.
1 John 4:9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him.
1 Corinthians 13:13 Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.
1 John 4:19 We love each other because he loved us first.
