Another week and another chance to choose something to bringjoy for the week. I looked at the list I had made. I had contracted a summercold. It wasn’t bad, but the stuffy nose made it hard to sleep, and I had alight cough that caught me at the wrong times. I needed something simple,something I could do in my room.

My gaze landed on an item toward the bottom of the list.

Finally put those stickers you’ve been collecting on a waterbottle.

Yap, that was the one. I had trouble committing the specialstickers I had collected to her water bottles. After all, I didn’t want to losethe stickers. But what was I saving them for?

I dug under my bed for my collection of water bottles. I selecteda metal one that seemed like it would last a long time and then went to mydesk. I pulled out a small box I had collected of special stickers.

I decided that even with the cold, I needed a furtherdistraction, so I didn’t overthink using my precious stickers. I scrolledthrough a list of audiobooks from my library I had saved off and selected onethat had been a favorite of my mother’s: A Bear Called Paddington byMichael Bond.

I started the audiobook and turned my attention to my task –bowing my nose, I wouldn’t drip onto the stickers at the water bottle. Afterthis disgusting task was accomplished and my hands washed. I sat down tofinally cover my water bottle with stickers.

I looked at the collection of stickers.

A beautiful sticker with watercolor flowers that said InChrist Alone. I put that front and center. Next went on my three different JaneAusten stickers. I smiled as I put the Booked to a Tea sticker on. Jared andLacie had made them when they first opened the store. Jared hadn’t bothered toreorder them, so I was one of the few that had them for now.

There was the sticker from the aquarium for my birthday andthe one from the state park.

When I finished, the bottle was covered with very little ofthe grey coating showing. I blew my nose and I coughed hard. It as time to curlup in my bed with a movie. Jane Austen was just the thing for a sick day. Oh! Ineeded tea to go with it.

I inhaled deeply of the tea I had brewed for myself. Itwasn’t my favorite blend, but I needed to keep going today. Lots of tea to keepthe congestion and sore throat at bay. That and a lot of hand sanitizer were used soI didn’t pass on my cold to the customers or Lacie. But Lacie and I were skillfullyavoiding each other. I didn’t want to give her my cold. The further along inher pregnancy, the more paranoid she got about being sick.

I took another swallow of tea as a customer came up to thedesk. Squirting on hand sanitizer, I took the selection of books from her. Fivebooks, three children’s books, and two non-fiction from our Christian section. Irang them up and handed the woman her books. As soon as she was out the door, Iblew my nose and again used the hand sanitizer.

Ah, the glamorous life of a customer service person with acold.

“You look exhausted.” My mother looked me over as I enteredthe door.

I nodded and headed to the kitchen. “Working with a cold willdo that. What smells so good?”

“I made you that green chili chicken soup you like so much.”

I turned toward my mother, feeling like my nose was twiceits normal size and glowing red enough to give Rudolf the reindeer a run forhis money. “Bless you. If I didn’t want to keep this cold to myself, I wouldhug and kiss you. Soup sounded so good, but I wasn’t sure I would have the energyto make anything.”

My mother smiled. “I like to be able to do things for you.”

I blew my nose and then washed my very dry hands beforefilling a bowl of the heavenly soup. I sat down at the table. Mom and I chattedabout the little happenings of the day. She looked so tired.

“How has the counseling been going?” I asked.

She looked off to the window. “I have a wonderful, godly counselorwho is helping me work through a lot of things from my past. Your father and Iagreed that we would seek some personal healing before we tried anymore couplescounseling.”

I nodded. It was hard to explain how that news was bothencouraging and discouraging at the same time. I was glad my parents were stillseeking help, that they hadn’t given up, but I had hoped we would be past thisby now. I wanted our happy home back. However, I knew many of the things theywere facing weren’t quick fixes. I had to be patient and wait to see how Godwould work things out.

I took a deep breath, coughed twice, before speaking. “I’mpraying for both of you every day.”

She nodded and smiled. “We need that more than anything elseanyone can do.”

I looked down at my bowl.

“How is Joan doing?”

I smiled, thinking of my mentor. “Oh, she is fine. We canceledour meeting as she tries to avoid respiratory illnesses. She has scar tissue onher lungs from an illness in her forties that makes her highly susceptible to makingeven minor colds into something serious.

My mother stood. “Well, I hope you get well soon. I need togo finish the laundry, and I promised my friend Jill I would call her thisevening.”

I nodded, grateful my mother had a good friend to talk to.“Thank you once again, Mom.”

She smiled. “I love you.”

“I love you….” I coughed instead of saying too. And then Isneezed into my soup. Gross. I hated colds.

This week's Mercies:

Cold Meds

Hot tea

A mom who makes megood soup.

I found this Green Chili Chicken soup recipe, and it is a favorite. (Note, I'm endorsing the recipe, not the website, which I haven't fully explored. 

I actually have bought the In Christ Alone Sticker (and some others) from this cute Etsy Shop.

I also love the stickers from this literary Etsy Shop.