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Finally, those five weeks of being sick are over, and my life is getting back to normal. Whatever normal is.

Five weeks is a long time to be sick, spend time in bed and not know if it’s morning or evening. There was a period when I was about ready to set up camp in the bathroom. That would’ve been a lot easier for me and less stressful.

But getting back to normal is a great delight. I’m unsure what I lost during those five weeks, but you can be sure I won’t try to find out. What is behind me is behind me for good!

My first morning, I was in my office trying to figure out where I was and what project I was working on. Being at my desk behind my computer and working was a good feeling. I really didn’t know how much I enjoyed it until it wasn’t there anymore.

I guess being sick can have a positive aspect. While I was sick, I wasn’t able to do the work that I wanted to do. That’s always a terrible place to be. But now that I’m over that, I’m sitting at my desk, looking around in my office and looking at all the books I have on my shelves. Oh, it’s a wonderful feeling.

Have my books missed me as much as I missed them?

But that’s behind me. Now, I need to press forward.

Another aspect of getting back in the saddle again are the meals that The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage prepares. I’m not sure what she prepared while I was sick as I have very little recollection of what they were. At my first breakfast, I took a deep breath and realized how delicious my breakfasts actually were. I’m looking forward to lunch with a great deal of anticipation.

I was starting to get back into my production routine, which took me a little while. After a little time, I was back into my routine. There is so much to do and so much joy in doing it.

One afternoon, I was sitting at my desk working on a project, and a thought kept coming to mind. This thought just would not go away.

I got up and got a cup of fresh coffee, hoping that would solve my little problem. I sat down at my desk and got back to work, and wouldn’t you know it, that thought was still bouncing back and forth in my mind.

I had enough to do to occupy my entire mind for the day, but for some reason, this little thought kept working its way into whatever I was doing at the time.

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy thoughts that come to me whenever they come. I want something fresh and new to invade my mind. But this thought was a little bit of a rascal.

Finally, I had enough, so I sat back in my chair and focused on this thought: β€œWouldn’t an apple fritter be a nice reward for getting back in my saddle?”

I will never know where that thought came from, but instead of rejecting it, like I should’ve, I embraced it. All I could think of for the rest of the afternoon was that apple fritter.

I couldn’t remember the last time I had an apple fritter, but I believe when I did have one, I got into trouble. According to The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage, apple fritters are not on my diet. According to her, I’m on a very strict diet.

I kept telling this thought, β€œYou better not let The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage hear what you’re saying to me.” I don’t think that thought was listening to me; he was only listening to himself.

The idea of munching on a fresh, warm apple fritter was marinating in my mind. Nothing in the world can match that kind of deliciousness.

In a couple of hours, that thought bought me hook, line and sinker. All I could think about was a fresh, warm apple fritter with a nice hot cup of coffee. That picture just glowed in my mind as I thought about it.

My problem was, how do I get an apple fritter? I’m sure The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage would not be part of this kind of thing. She would rather I had a stalk of broccoli (yuck) than a nice apple fritter.

The more I thought about this apple fritter, the more I yearned for it. After all, I spent almost five weeks with some kind of sickness, I should have something to reward me for getting through it all.

My project is, how do I present this to The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage? How do I present it in such a way that she will bite into it and let me have an apple fritter?

I hope this thought has friends who can help me think through this project.

That afternoon, a Bible verse came to mind.

Philippians 4:8, β€œFinally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Some thoughts just aren’t worth the time or energy. I need to control my thinking and think thoughts worthy of God.