When Illness Changes Plans

Unlike a typical Sunday when we usually go to our local church for worship, today was different. My wife's stomachache had worsened, but at first, she didn’t want to go to the clinic. So, we stayed home since I was also feeling a bit weak. My wife suggested we watch an online sermon on YouTube. Together with our kids, we learned something about the God we worship. I hoped the children could understand at least a little of what they heard. This is what we do whenever one of us falls sick, we rest at home. Besides, it wouldn’t feel right to attend church while sick, especially with a child coughing; it might make others uncomfortable.

After the online sermon, I did some chores like washing and drying the kids’ school uniforms. Then, my wife and I went to pick papayas and coconuts. Interestingly, every time our coconut tree bears fruit, there are always five coconuts in a bunch, the same number as our family: my wife, Rex, Rez, Eiona, and me. It feels like the tree somehow knows the size of our family. We enjoyed fresh coconut water, followed by lunch together. The green spinach we had was freshly picked from our garden, and it tasted far better than the store-bought kind, sweeter and fresher. That’s the beauty of growing your own food; it’s chemical-free, with no organic fertilizers or pesticides. I even had time to take some photos of the plants and flowers, updating our little garden’s progress.

Later, I took my wife to the government hospital. Only the emergency unit operates on Sundays. Thankfully, it wasn’t crowded, and she received treatment much faster than we expected. She was given an injection and medicine for her stomach. Although she took the medication, the discomfort returned late at night. I prayed for her quick recovery and for our kids, who had started coughing and showing signs of a cold again despite recovering earlier.