We don’t know if Mary ever served chicken soup to Jesus.

And so I was wondering this morning how much He could relate to my dripping sinuses and chest congestion. I wondered why He would protect us throughout the winter from colds (which in Julia’s case with the IPF is a huge blessing), but then now in the spring He would let it take away this weekend from us. We had opportunities to serve our church family and our immediate family, and they’ve all been put aside. In addition, there’s little energy to tackle home projects. So what’s up?

I remember that He is here now in me, experiencing this cold. When I pray that it be taken away, and it isn’t, I remember Jesus in me is choosing to bear it for this time. What are His purposes in this? For one thing, I’m sure He isn’t wanting to go with me into discouragement or grumpiness. That’s not where He goes in the midst of a cold! I’m also sure He is showing me again how much greater is fellowship with Him than the temporary misery of one weekend “lost.”

Is it too bold of me to say, “I don’t know if He had a cold when He walked this earth, but today, in me, He’s got a whopper!”? That statement seems to resonate with the following scripture passage, and so I’m drinking deeply of the best kind of chicken soup to be had – chicken soup for the soul.

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed…always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies….So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison…” (2 Corinthians 4:7-18 ESV)