It's Monday, Four Thieves Oil/Vinegar, and Monday Dose of Encouragement

It's another chilly day here in Oklahoma. My days go by sooo fast. I do paperwork for uncontested court pleadings (divorce mostly) so I'm sure you can just guess what my Monday mornings are like! Lol!

There is a lot of *talk* about the H1N1 Virus (Swine Flu). There was a 15 year old that died last week in Tulsa from the virus. The flu season hasn't really even hit yet and already the doctor offices are full.

I make a concoction called the Four Thieves Oil. It comes from a most interesting factual story. History records that the four thieves were arrested for stealing from the homes of the many dead victims of the Black Death Plague that occured in Europe in 1628. Perfumers by day, and robbers by night, these men made a concoction of herbs and essential oils in a base of vinegar and would douse their bodies with this before they went out plundering.

At first the authorities did nothing, assuming that the foolish thieves would die of the plague. However, the robbers continued and people began to wonder why the robbers had not become ill and died. The authorities began to pursue the thieves for their crimes, but also to discover the secret of their immunity to the plague.

The four thieves were eventually caught and were condemned to be burned at the stake for their crimes. However, the King of France offered to mitigate their sentence if they would reveal their secret in how they had been avoiding death by the plague. The thieves told all all, revealing their secret bland of aromatic herbs steeped in vinegar. All four thieves were hung. Thus, the remedy did not fall into obscurity and has been used for centuries since to protect against contagion.

I made the oil and the vinegar back in March of this year. The vinegar takes about 2 months to make, because the herbs must be steeped in raw apple cider vinegar. People swear by this stuff. The oils and herbs used to make it are anti-bacterial. If you would like some of the oil I charge $6.00 for a small bottle (about 3oz). The vinegar takes longer to make (and smells really strong) but if you would like some just let me know.

I love to give others encouragement. The colors in this picture are so beautiful. I'm sure just around the corner there is a farmer's market stand with homemade breads and jellies! Can you smell the hickory wood burning in the air? Remember, you can do all things through Christ Jesus that strengthens you! Philippans 4:13

Have a great Monday!