I have a sentence that I repeat a LOT. In fact, I say it so often that my family teases me that it is going to go on my gravestone. It’s “Do all the things.” This phrase is fairly new for me – only about 2 years old. I started saying it as we were preparing to send our oldest to college. It really increased when my son came down with the ick while at school. (Did you know 17 year olds can’t buy cold medicine?) I would frequently go through the list of general health care items when he would call. You know things like…wash your hands, don’t touch your face, rest, take your vitamins,….oh and don’t forget to call your mom. Now it’s kind of the family joke…the kids tell me “I know, I know; ‘do all the things.”
About a month ago, the ick hit our household. It was going around Stafford and at my son’s college as well (shocking, I know). I found myself saying my catch phrase multiple times a day to everyone…. Wash your hands, don’t touch your face, gargle, take your vitamins, drink lots of fluids….. All the things that moms remind kids of when they get sick.
After we all became well, I was sitting in church listening to Pastor Tim preach about the early church. The passage was Acts 2:41-47.
So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of the bread and to prayer. And everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together, and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions, and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. And day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
It sounded to me a lot like my catch phrase. Luke lists many things that the early church was doing…devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching, fellowshipping, breaking bread, prayer, giving, sharing, praising God…. These things were helping the church members to grow in faith and be spiritually healthy. Not only do we need to “do all the things” to be physically healthy but also to be spiritually healthy (maybe some different things though). It was a good reminder that I need to be as focused on being spiritually healthy as I do to be physically healthy. I would encourage you to “Do ALL the things” too! Let’s do all the things together!
Christi Hellmund
