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10 Minutes Peace

    by Susan McGrath

Elbow Sneezes
Date Posted: September 29, 2007

In Kindergarten, we teach the kids to sneeze and cough into their elbows so they won't spray the entire class with the germ of the day. It also keeps those touchy little hands a bit cleaner.

As of this writing, some have not mastered the technique. This week our class used up two boxes of tissues and five kids were out with a stomach virus - and flu season doesn't even begin for a couple of months!

Strategically placed around the classroom, the teachers also keep several little containers of anti-bacterial hand gel or lotion to kill the rogue germs that do escape the elbow. But some still manage to get through.

No matter how many defenses we build or employ, some of those germs will survive and multiply, causing misery for someone.

Sin works like that. Regardless of how much we want to do good things, sin will find a way to creep in. The closer we walk with God, the more we read His Word, pray and build relationships with others in Christ, the less sin will get through our defense system.

But when it does, we have something better than the most recent scientifically engineered drug or even chicken soup -- we have the love and forgiveness of our God.

I'm very grateful for the Lord's mercy, not only for the sins that I might breathe in, but for those I might sneeze out, which could infect others.

"But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense -- Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." -- 1 John 2:1-2

" . . . where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." -- Romans 5:20-21

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Biography Information:
Susan McGrath is:

a recovering journalist trying to encourage others and glorify God through writing;

living the small-town life with husband Tim and sons Lincoln, 12, and Sawyer, 6;

completing a few put-off writing projects while using chocolate for therapy.