Sit. Stay. Pray.

One of the hardest things for me to do is to sit still. I am a doer through and through. Before I became severely ill, whenever a situation arose which needed volunteers or a task to be completed, I was always eager to jump up and go to work. I used to have a daily planner which often planned out my day down to the very minute. I would stay up late and wake up early. I was on-the-go, too busy to ever take a break. Even when I went on "vacation", I had a meticulous schedule detailing exactly all the things I wanted to see and do.

Now that my body no longer allows me to participate in most events, I have been forced to find new ways to be involved. When I would hear of things happening, a community service opportunity or a fundraising event, I use to weep because I could not contribute to the event. What use can a person lying in bed be in helping serve food at a soup kitchen? I felt guilty and would often attempt to help at events only to become severely ill and often end up in the emergency department.

Sometime in the last few years, I have solved the problem of what to do. I have started to sit still and pray. I think of everything which is needed to accomplish the task. I mentally "work" my way through each task as if I was there doing it. Are volunteers, good weather, money, baked goods, publicity, etc. needed in order for the event to be successful? I then pray about each thing. After the event, I try to ask people who attended the function how everything went. I then make a list of all the successes, and I send praises up to God for answering so many prayers.

So while my body may physically limit my ability to partake in many activities, it is such a blessing to be able to provide spiritual support. I still often yearn to volunteer at events, but I have discovered my efforts are much better used if I sit still, stay home and pray. "Now then, stand still and see this great thing the LORD is about to do before your eyes!" (1 Samuel 12:16)