On the seventh day of Christmas, JESUS gave to me A Body Glorified, Power from on high, Joy for my soul, Love for all men, Peace in my heart, Everlasting Life, and Salvation full and free.

So earlier this year I was diagnosed with a chronic condition and I was devastated. One of my prayers for the year was that no one in my family would receive a new diagnosis of any disease in 2019. My prayer seemed to have been answered as everyone seemed to be dodging the diagnosis bullet except for me and I was disappointed.

I am reminded in this season that there are so many people (Christians and otherwise) who are living with chronic conditions and the stress of the holidays does not make it better. While some are bustling away and enjoying the shopping and busyness of the Christmas season, there are many that dread this time of year; It is a reminder of the fact that they cannot do the things that they love, or eat the things that love, or hang out with the people they love because of the state of their physical and mental health.

This morning, I was encouraged with a promise from scripture:

Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away. Isaiah 51:11KJV

There will come a day and soon when those who have been ransomed by God shall return to Heaven (Zion, the beautiful city of  God) with singing and rejoicing and this imperfect body riddled with diabetes, hypertension, multiple sclerosis, paralysis, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and whatnot will be stripped away.

I could not have said it any better; such powerful and encouraging words right from scripture:

What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever. But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. I Corinthians 15:50- 53 NLT

What blessed hope!

Yours Truly.