One of our members posted a concern about bringing children to church because of the germs usually picked up which are presumed to be the reason they become ill once they go home again. I had to smile because we have certainly had our bit of the same experience this year- as most families have. There seems to be more flues and viruses around this year ( maybe we say this every year ).
I believe it would be good to answer the concern in part however.
Our immune systems are taught by experience how to fight and what to be alerted over. It is like the military of a country. We fight fire with fire and try to identify and predict the enemy. If we are not able to spy on the enemy , we will get surprised and overwhelmed. Small doses of viruses actually strengthen, train and inform the immune system .Like proper immunization, it will introduce a low strength virus and get the body to be able to identify and combat the “enemy” in a time when the body can fight .
Note this from a noted research body:
 A mounting body of research suggests that exposing infants to germs may offer them greater protection from illnesses such as allergies and asthma later on in life.

This line of thinking, called the “hygiene hypothesis,” holds that when exposure to parasites, bacteria, and viruses is limited early in life, children face a greater chance of having allergies, asthma, and other autoimmune diseases during adulthood.

In fact, kids with older siblings, who grew up on a farm, or who attended day care early in life seem to show lower rates of allergies.

Just as a baby’s brain needs stimulation, input, and interaction to develop normally, the young immune system is strengthened by exposure to everyday germs so that it can learn, adapt, and regulate itself, notes Thom McDade, PhD, associate professor and director of the Laboratory for Human Biology Research at Northwestern University.

 I do however, encourage those with colds and flues that are in a contagious stage with coughing and sneezing to consider others and either refrain or stay home until the symptoms are less likely to infect others. However, a few sniffles and colds that train the immune system make for healthy adults later who are able to interact with the general population well and have a strong enough immune system to deal with it. We went through our routine of sicknesses with our family and now as a rule ,most flues are very short lived and mild as adults. Very few end up with ER
visits.
      Consider this when you are dealing with the flues and colds in your family. It will pay off in the long run and you are doing your kids a favour letting them get exposed to some.
                                             Hope it helps you feel better about the battle,
Brother Warren Jones