The brewing lamp is lit.

What do you do when you get good news? Each of us is different, of course, but most of us celebrate good news one way or another, even if it's just a brief "WOOHOO!" I wish I could say that my first response is to thank God for my good fortune, but alas I don't always go there immediately...eventually, but not necessarily immediately. 

The book of James tells us, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." (James 1:17) Who is the Father of lights? 

God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. (Genesis 1:14-15)

Yep, our Heavenly Father provided lights for us, just as He has provided every other good thing we have. That included my lab report for today. It shows that my platelet count doubled since Monday! Add to that the fact that my hemoglobin increased  as well, and I consider those to be some pretty good gifts. Why? 

Have you ever been anemic? Anemia amounts to "a lack of power, vigor, vitality."* These are its symptoms, really. Physiologically speaking it is a lack of the iron rich pigment hemoglobin, which carries oxygen to the body's tissues. Ergo, increased hemoglobin means decreased lack of power, vigor, vitality. OK, you lost me here, Tom. Simply stated, power, vigor, vitality correlate directly with the level of hemoglobin: more is good; less is bad. 

Now, when it comes to platelets, those little stinkers work the same way. They correlate with power, vigor, vitality the same as hemoglobin, but with an added feature. When platelets get too low, they let hemoglobin out of the body in the form of bruising and bleeding. Don't blame me, that's the way the Lord made us. (In truth, the symptoms of these elements being out of whack are another gift from God. They tell us our body needs some attention and/or maintenance.) The way I see it, hemoglobin and platelets and even symptoms are good gifts. And where do those come from? You got it: the Father of lights. 

So, why isn't my first reaction to the good news from the lab to go to Him and give thanks and worship? Can you find any place in this blog where I claim to have good sense? As I mentioned, I do get to those things, but not always first. 

In this particular case, I have been looking forward to an opportunity to brew up some Scottish Export Ale in my newly remodeled home brewery. The good news that I shouldn't need a transfusion for several days made me so happy that I contacted Salem Brew Supply and ordered ingredients. I did thank God for making me feel so good and making my body such an indomitable fighter in this battle. But I have to be honest and say that I'm not sure the idea that I can do some brewing didn't come first. 

Brew day is Saturday. My lab assistant Igor Jill and I will get an early start. Scottish Export Ale should be ready in about three weeks. 

Thank you, Father, for giving me the hope of a few days to pursue something that gives me joy...not to mention grain and yeast and hops and water. It's all from You. Oh, and thanks for the lights, too!!

*https://www.dictionary.com/browse/anemia

Comments

  1. AnonymousAugust 4, 2022 at 10:50 PM

    Your whole blog is full of thanksgiving Tom!! Praise God for your vigor and vitality. Jill and you will make an awesome team as you prepare your Scottish Export Ale. Have fun. Donalynn :-)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Papa AlanAugust 5, 2022 at 3:47 PM

    Ok, yah, you lost me Tom. But I’m not concerned. I did understand about the Scottish Export Ale. Sounds good. But praising the good news. God is good all the time!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. gardengirlAugust 7, 2022 at 4:14 PM

    So glad and thankful you are feeling stronger. What about an Octoberfest, Pat asks?

    ReplyDelete

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