Time to "Get a Grip"

Simone is weary.  Her body aches, her head aches, her lungs are congested, her thoughts are putrid, and she realizes she is sick.  She confesses being physically sick, emotionally sick, and worst of all spiritually almost dead.  But somewhere inside her there is still a spark of 'hope'.

This was not a good week, especially in regard to her health, but somethings happened that have fanned the spark in her.  She missed church on Sunday, since she had been at the lake, and was a bit concerned since they are doing a series on "Life's Healing Choices", and Simone really wanted to attend.  She felt in her heart this was an answer to prayer and that God was going to speak to her, in fact, he already had. 

The first healing choice, was to admit that she needed help.  "God certainly knows I need that!"  Simone agreed wholeheartedly, and she had signed up to join a small group of believers about two weeks ago.  The idea of the small group was to meet together to do further study and pray for one another.  However, no one called.

Something happened that made Simone think she may lose her job, and she was trying hard not to jump to conclusions.  Her thinking was never positive when she was not feeling well, so she decided not to react, but to try a bit harder in that area.  She also decided not to make any major decisions until she began feeling better. 

On Thursday, while Simone was walking Sadie, she ran into an old friend from church whom she had seen there the last few weeks, but she dashed off each time before they could talk.  The thought had crossed her mind that Julie was actually avoiding her.  This time Julie was certainly not avoiding her, and as they walked the dogs, she invited Simone to come to the Small Group she was attending that evening.  "I'll pick you up at 6:30" Julie said as she got in her car.  Simone was actually quite excited, and that evening she met with 9 other ladies from church.  Afterward, she and Julie went and had a coffee and chatted.  That evening, she learned what the second healing choice was, "Accept God's offer for help"!

"Admitting need for help, and accepting God's offer for help, sounded pretty simplistic" thought Simone.  She believed she could do that, and so that evening she prayed exactly that.  "I am open to whatever help you bring God" Simone whispered sincerely.

On Friday, even though she was still not feeling well, she did her work, stopped by to rent a few movies and went home to spend a restful and quiet evening.  As she watched one of the movies, she began to cry like a baby.  She had not suspected for one moment what the movie she rented was about, but something in it's content hit her deeply.  It was called "To Save a Life" .  God had spoken loud and clear!

It is Saturday, and Simone is supposed to attend a Halloween Party tonight.  She does not like this holiday much, she never really has.  This morning she is supposed to go over to her sister's house to go through her costumes and find something to wear.  Simone is reluctant, but it is a family event, and everyone is expecting her to attend.  Simone wishes she felt better.  "Maybe" she thinks "I should just stay home and take care of myself and get better"?  or "Maybe she should pray about it"? 

As she prayed the thought entered her mind "Don't be Judgemental."  then the phone rang.  A name came up on the screen.  It was the guy from the lake.  She didn't answer the phone.  Ugh!  "What is wrong with me!?" Simone whispered under her breath.