Just One Mom's Perspective

With all that has been going on with the threat of the pandemic with COVID-19, I decided to put my thoughts into this blog.  First, I want to say that I am a believer and Jesus Christ is in whom I place my trust.  Over the past year, my faith has been tested and strengthened with my youngest son literally fighting for his life for several months.  It was not easy watching him look helpless and so fragile, knowing there was nothing I could do to help him.  This is the place where my husband and I found ourselves having to really lean in on the very Word of God and trusting Him with everything.  With that being said, I just wanted to give my point of view on this COVID-19 threat.

I am the mom of medically fragile children, and my second son was born so early that not only his immune system has to recuperate, but his lungs are very fragile.  It is in my daily routine to stay away from large crowds, avidly wash my hands, and if I happen to get sick, I must wear a mask to protect my children from catching anything.  All the precautions that have been mentioned by the CDC and healthcare professionals are all things that are the NORM for my family.  I will say, my faith is rooted in Jesus Christ, and I will also say that using wisdom and taking proper precautions are important.  For example, when my son was in the NICU, although he was inside an incubator, and though we couldn’t always touch him, we still had to wash our hands when entering his room, and if you were sick, you were not allowed on the floor.  Truth is, germs are real, and they are dangerous for those with compromised immune systems.  So, as we placed our trust in God who was the only one who could heal our child because the doctors basically told us there was nothing else they could do, we watched the miraculous unfold right before our very eyes and we diligently followed the rules of the NICU.  I have seen some posts on social media where some have made statements that alluded to if you allowed COVID-19 to affect your behavior, then you must not be in faith.  In my opinion, and I am just a mom with medically fragile children, I wholeheartedly believe that you can be in faith and take proper steps to ensure you and your family stays safe.

For my family and I, panic has not been a response for us in the recent events.  However, I will say that frustration set in for me when trying to buy my children’s necessities.  I had to drive to a minimum of seven stores just to find the right baby formula and pampers.  Being that I haven’t been taking my kids out for much lately due to it being flu season, I didn’t know how bad it really was.  I witnessed people filling up three and four baskets worth of food and beverages.  I have never been inside a grocery store where all the water, toilet paper, paper towels, meats, and baby wipes were all gone.  I am not exaggerating; I think my jaw dropped just a little bit.  As I pondered on this, I began to think about the early church and how they shared all they had with everyone.  No one lacked anything.  Then I thought, what a wonderful opportunity the church has amid the craziness and panic.  We are the receivers of such abundant grace from God, and this is such a grand time where we can literally influence our various communities by sharing the love of Christ in deed and word.

As I end this blog, I want to pray for those who can’t shake the feeling of panic or fear.  I pray that you have such an encounter with Jesus that His peace rests in your mind and your heart.  I pray for those who are sick that God intervenes on your behalf.  May the love of God and the joy of the Lord be your strength as you continue to place your trust in Him.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.