My body hurts. Well, not really; at least, my WHOLE body doesn’t hurt. My joints ache, especially when I do physical activities I’m not conditioned to do (like running and jumping and lifting heavy weights, and mowing and weedeating. Ugh!) Sometimes my lower back gets so tight I can barely move, or my upper back will spasm so it’s difficult to breathe.

I’m NOT complaining! If I hurt, it’s usually because I’ve been doing something physical. I’m thankful, instead, that I am ABLE and CAPABLE of doing those things, even when the end result is lineament and ice packs. I’m thankful, because I saw my Grandma and my Dad reach a point where they were unable to do even simple physical tasks, and, at least for now, I can still work. I have friends who have been crippled by abuse and who are unable to do seemingly simple tasks, and I am grateful that despite the things I have dealt with in my life, there is still much I can do. I know people who have such severe disabilities that they are confined to a wheelchair, unable to take care of their most basic needs.

I am grateful for my aches and pains. I may complain, and I certainly get frustrated when I find that I am unable to do a physical task that was easy for me a few short years ago. I am envious of the woman who can still grab a 100# bale of hay and load it in the pickup; who can climb onto a roof carrying heavy buckets and roofing material, dig post holes, or work in the garden. It frustrates me that it takes me days now to complete a task that only took a few hours before. But still, I am thankful! Even though I can no longer do what I was able to in the past, I am thankful, because when Jesus returns and I get to join Him and my Dad and my Grandma, and all the others who have gone before me, the aches and pains will be GONE. I will see Z and Lexi, J and C, and all my friends and family who are restricted on earth by physical issues; all of them running and jumping and praising God with perfect bodies and perfect voices. What an absolutely glorious life to look forward to!

“For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.” 2 Corinthians 5:1 (http://bible.com/111/2co.5.1.NIV)

Here’s the kicker. Do you KNOW you’ll be there with us? It’s very simple to make sure.

“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20‭-‬21 (http://bible.com/111/2co.5.20-21.NIV)

“For GOD so Loved the world that He gave His One and ONLY Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life….. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the Name of God’s One and Only Son. John 3:16‭, ‬18 (http://bible.com/111/jhn.3.16-18.NIV)

ALWAYS, and in EVERYTHING…..

“…. ALWAYS giving thanks to GOD the Father for everything, in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:20 (http://bible.com/111/eph.5.20.NIV)

and AMEN!