Bless You 

The past few weeks have been "germaggeddon." With every sniffle or cough, I could see the relay of illness pass from one child to another and back again. I watched helplessly and told myself that the lone Clorox wipe in my hand was doing something. It finally broke me last week. After taking one of my children’s febrile temperature in the middle of the night, I sat on the couch with tears running down my face. My private pity party prompted me to ask, "God, why are you making this so hard?" I looked up and saw a photo from our wedding. Immediately, I had my answer, "because you said yes." I’m pretty sure God also added a "P.S., this isn’t that hard." If I’m honest, sometimes I think that because I answered the call to be a husband and a father, I should win a prize or something. My vocation should be the hardest thing I ever do, because it is the greatest thing I will ever do. It’s not for me to negotiate the terms of how God wants me to live; rather, it’s for me to never quit trying to honor the gift He has given me in the life I have – germs and all. Good luck staying healthy in mind, body, and spirit and, whatever you do, stay away from me and my children for at least 2-3 months.