Love One Another: In Covid?
Ahhh-choo…a few stalls down in a woman’s restroom. The sneezes, over and over and over again, reverberated through the space - louder than any man’s sneeze I had ever heard (maybe I should not have said that, but give me a little grace here - I was not a happy camper). From the sound, there was nothing over her mouth and nose - the sound was clear as a bell, not muffled at all. Then, the nose-blowing started. “Oh, my goodness,” I thought, “get me out of here.” I am a self-admitted germaphobe, but then the next thought really scared me. “Please don’t let it be Covid.”
Three days later, like clockwork, my symptoms started at night with drainage in the back of my throat. “We are headed into fall, I hope these are just allergy symptoms,” I said that night when I went to bed. The next morning, it was worse, and immediately, I reached for the combo Covid/Flu test. Before my 15 minutes of waiting were up, my line started appearing…Covid. Then started the flurry of activity to get registered with Teledoc, because I did not want to spread the virus further….let that sink in…because I did not want to spread the virus further. Why did I ask for grace above, because inasmuch as I can know (that I know, that I know, that I know) that I got Covid from the restroom experience, I am just a little mad about it. Why? Let me tell you.
The “whys” are vast in number. Some of us are taking care of elderly family members with heart conditions, lung disease, cancer, etc. Others are taking care of small children. There are women who are pregnant. I have precious friends who are immunocompromised because of disease. For approximately two years, my husband was immunocompromised because of steroid use for a rheumatological condition. I have asthma. There are many more “whys” I could name. However, the the greatest “why” is found in the Bible, John 13:34-35 (KJV) A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
While there are things that cannot be helped, there are truly things that I can stop the spread. I can wash my hands - goodness knows my family hears this from me enough. I can wash them for 20 seconds, or until my Apple Watch tells me to stop (really, how many of you are not wearing an Apple Watch?). I can STILL keep my hands off my face. If I wasn’t the “crazy person” that opens doors with the tail of my shirt, keeps a glove in my car for pumping gas or EV charging, etc. - then I would keep anti-bacterial wipes in my car. Wait - I do that, too! I cover my mouth and nose when I cough and sneeze. I test when I have symptoms during a time when Covid is running rampant - I don’t explain my symptoms away as “allergies” or “a cold”. I isolate and mask according to doctor’s orders.
This has been a tremendous disruption for our family of two - just two people. The responsibility of caring for my 88-year-old mother-in-law, recovering from COVID, pleural effusion, and heart conditions in a rehab facility - after more than a week in the hospital - is falling solely to my husband. She is not out of the woods, as we have to get her to Duke for a heart cath prior to additional, serious procedures. Thank the Lord, we also have a wonderful caregiver to help us (some people are not so blessed). Normally, I deal with the coordination of her care, while he handles other things. We have a system. It ground to a halt. I have missed days of work - even though my job is remote - I just couldn’t go. That is what compelled me to post something, but my first instinct was not to be gracious, but to rant. Then, I remembered the scripture above. I was convicted, and I prayed for the sneezing woman - that in her sickness, she is comforted and healed.
Love one another. I know how hard it might be - giving up days of work and pay, testing kids and keeping them home from school, countless other things...I have been there, maybe not with Covid, but I have been there. Is the hardship worth what could save the lives of the ones we are to love?
This world needs us to love one another.
Blessings ~
Lisa