Detour

 Happy Sabbath

I need to go straighten up because we made a mess after getting back home.  Today, we went to one of our former churches for a holiday concert and I was able to attend the adult Sabbath school for the first time in a long time.  It was really nice to be there. However, right before we were going to start the concert (cantata), my son started complaining about feeling ill. He has been sick since really Monday.  On Saturday last week, I woke up to my house feeling colder than usual and discovered that the furnace was not furnacing. I waited until after Sabbath to call a repair guy I last spoke with in 2020 and he told me he would come out on Monday so I agreed to that instead of Sunday, which would have brought a higher price.  I turned on the space heaters, pulled out the blankets and got the house up to a reasonable 63-64 degrees.  Although he was given extra blankets and told to dress appropriately, he chose to defy mommie and not use the blankets or wear proper clothing.  He likes walking around barefoot. He likes walking around with his undershirt.  He even tries to go outside without a coat and it might as be winter right now.  

Sunday we were fine. Monday, the guy came and fixed the system in the early afternoon.  I pushed the thermostat up to 70 degrees for the rest of the night into Tues when I had to turn it back down to 68 (and even that is too high).  Monday, he complained a bit, sneezed and coughed. Tuesday same thing. Wednesday, it got worse so I had to cancel his at home therapy session and moved it to Thursday hoping would do better.  Thursday, he started wheezing in the morning.  I recommended the night before and the afternoon of that he complete a breathing treatment with his nebulizer but he refused and ignored my pleas.  Friday, we went to pick up some other medicines and he tried different things from mid week all the way until Friday.  He picked up a huge bag of Halls cough drops. I recommended he get the store brand but he wanted the one he had in hand so I paid for those expensive cough drops....we could have got store brand.  It's literally the same thing. 

Here we are. Saturday.  I told him several times to put his Halls cough drops in his coat pocket but he chose to ignore me the 4-5 times I told him to. I  wanted to go to the cantata.  I didn't have to prepare anything for the children's class as I would be going to another church today to worship and be a spectator for once.  We got there early and I found a comfortable seat and greeted people as they came in.  He ate some sweets before we arrived. He walked in with no problem. He sat down with no problem.  Sabbath school started and he would cough a little.  Then as more people came in, he complained that his stomach was nauseous and he wanted to go home.  He complained that his throat hurt.  I asked him if he brought the cough drops and he said no. I told him several times to go downstairs to get some water and snacks and he finally went after the umpteenth time.  He came back up with water.  He then started complaining of a headache and after I got chips, mints and a cough drop for him, he started crying.  

We had to go but I was not going to take him home because I know him.  He will miraculously get better as we are driving home. I decided to take him to the hospital since it was literally around the corner.  Guess what?  He was miraculously better within 30 min of being there.  All he did was lay down a bit and they gave him ibuprofen, a steroid to help the cough which he wasn't even really doing since we walked out, and an albuterol treatment with a spacer. The same treatments I told him he needed to do at home and he refused.  If he needed to lay down, there was a room he could have done so and I told him to lay on my shoulder, but he refused.  

So I missed the cantata.  My son returned home to eat more sweets, pizza, and get back to his nonsense.  I'm very disappointed.  Next week I have to go to another church because my church building is having a funeral for another congregation.  I wonder if he is going to get mysteriously sick and pull this again.  

I have to say what I am thankful for, so I'll stop the complaining.  

I am thankful for a hospital being close by and for my son to get treatment.  I am thankful that God helped me to get my heating fixed for the house.  I am thankful for a productive work week and a bonus that I didn't expect to come through.  I am thankful for the delicious meal I had earlier today.  I am thankful to be able to see a few familiar and friendly faces even though it was for a moment.  I am thankful that I don't have to go out in the storm that is coming tonight and shutting things down tomorrow.  I am thankful for God's creation and to enjoy nature at my back door.  I am thankful for God's promises and His help when I need it.  For His choice to reach into my life, turn me around and let me know there is something worth while and for His help to keep going.  He is the reason life is worth while.  He is the reason.  If you need a reason, He is the best reason.  God is good.  I expect to run into troubles and nonsense like I encountered this morning but God triumphs over all of it.  Even if things don't go the way we want, to God be the glory.  God is good and it is a happy Sabbath for me.