Jeremiah 2:25 Do not run until your feet are bare and your throat is dry.
James 4:14-15 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”
I live life to the fullest, and for those that know me well, you know that means that I am constantly on the go. I’ve been referred to as “Wonder Woman” because I tend to accomplish much in every given day. But I like to think it’s because people wonder what I’m going to get into next. I find myself so busy that I actually have an ongoing schedule in my brain in which I allot certain time slots for specific tasks that I must complete.
For the last ten days, I have been forced to slow down. The schedule inside my brain has been turned off…completely…off. Over the past ten days, I have found that there really is a silver lining in everything…even COVID 19. I do not get sick very often, and my husband will vouch for me that I am a terrible patient. My job is to take care of everyone else who is sick. My job does not entail time for me to be sick, but it is what it is. I have been sick for ten days now, and I have really slowed down.
It started with cold symptoms. I actually thought it was just my allergies until I developed a low grade fever. I went for testing fully expecting to be negative, but it was positive. The symptoms have been crazy confirming my thoughts that this was likely a man made virus. We have experienced cough, congestion, severe body aches, nausea, diarrhea, loss of taste and smell, tachycardia, fatigue, and weakness. I even developed a touch of pneumonia. My initial thought at the time of diagnosis was, “Wow, I have ten days off work isolated at home. I’m going to get so many things accomplished.” I was so very wrong. I’ve not accomplished very much at all this week. I had made a whole list of tasks in my head that I would complete, but those tasks are for the most part still incomplete ten days later.
I may sound as though I’m complaining, and truth be known I have done my share of complaining this week, but I truly am thankful. God has worked so many things out during this mandatory ten day rest period. Originally, my husband and I had planned a hunting trip at a friend’s ranch in Texas. We had to cancel because of COVID. Had we gone to Texas, I would not have been here to check on my daddy daily. I wouldn’t have been able to lay my eyes on him. Being positive for COVID also allowed me to make a couple of house calls on positive friends from church. It afforded me the ability to spend some leisurely time at home with my husband who has been battling this awful virus by my side. But of all the things that this virus has taught me, it has shown me that God is ever faithful. Although there is so much fear surrounding this virus, I haven’t felt fearful at all. I have felt the very presence of my Savior through it all. He has lifted me up and carried me through each and every day of my life, and He did not forget me these past ten days. Each day I’ve grown stronger physically, and I’ve also grown stronger in my faith and my walk with Christ.
James says it best. “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” We don’t know what tomorrow holds, but we do know who holds tomorrow. Our life is just a mist, a vapor. Christ is still on the throne, and sometimes He slows us down so that we can reflect on His mercy, grace, and love. I have slowed down, and I have reclined in the love of Christ this week. I pray we can all slow down and see the glory of our Father no matter what set of circumstances we find ourselves in. Slow down. We aren’t promised tomorrow, but we can shine brightly for Christ today! Slow down and shine the love of Christ today! Fear of this virus can stop us in our tracks, but we can not allow it to do so. It can slow us down, but it can not stop us! God has a plan. We only need to slow down and listen to that still, small voice!
Inspirations from the Funny Farm 