Stuck in My Rocking Chair With Covid and I Cannot Get Out

My time has come…covid. My "medical" husband and I had just been contemplating the fact that after all this time and multiple exposures to covid, maybe I was just one of those people who would not get covid. Then whammy; I was struck with the dreaded virus. Only it was not too bad. In fact, if there was not so many unknowns, news media dramas, and anxieties swirling over "covid", this would have been another "run of the mill" illness. I have had worse. 

So what are the knowns: 

1. God is, and always will be, in charge of the universe. (Genesis 1, Hebrews 1:1-4, Psalm 8:1-4)

2. The death rate is 100% for everyone. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and the punishment of sin is death. (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23)

3. Jesus has paid the price of our sin and for those who believe in Jesus as Savior, we will have eternal life in Heaven with God forever where there will be no more sickness or sadness. YEAH!! (Ephesians 4:2-9, John 3:16-17, Revelation 21:4)

4. As the covid virus mutates, it will become more contagious, but thankfully less deadly. I love the number of times God assures us, "Do not fear." I love the number of times God tells us, He is with us. Immanuel-God with us. I love that no matter what, God holds us.  (Deuteronomy 31:8, Matthew 1:23, Isaiah 41:13, Psalm 23:4)

5. My heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones from or with covid. But my heart also goes out to those who have and continue to lose loved ones from cancer, heart disease, diabetes, dementia, depression, car accidents, etc. (See #2.) 

My worse symptom was an incredible fatigue that hit me early Sunday morning. I did not go to church. I did not get out of my pajamas. I did not get of of my rocker recliner. (I am a mover. HA. Very unlike me to sit for me than 30 minutes at a time.) However, as I look back it was a good time. Yes, a good time!

My covid thankful list:

1. I am so thankful we had a good time with all four of our boys, two lovely daughters-by-love, and our sweet Baby James home between Christmas & New Year. I am so happy I was not sick when they were home; I became sick the day they left. (I am so glad none of them ended up sick.)
2. I am so thankful for my sweet doctor.  She was so helpful, caring, and easily accessible.
3. I am so thankful I was able to do a ton of reading. It was great! Hours and hours of uninterrupted reading. I never have time to sit and read...Or actually I am never very good at sitting for extended periods of time to read. 
4. I am so thankful for fellow commiserators. My sister from Michigan had covid, too, so we had great long phone conversations. One of my best friends, also had it. Her word for the year was "whimsey" and we shared great whimsical conversations and laughter through our texts. 

5. I am so thankful for #3 son home on college break who- without even being asked- cooked meals for us, cleaned up our home from the holiday clutter, and did multiple loads of laundry of towels and sheets from everyone being home. Another reason to resist killing your teenagers.
6. I’m so thankful that I was ok. Still a tiny bit on the mend. Steroids helped.
7. I am so thankful for alka seltzer cold plus & cough medicine. They did not have that in Laura Ingalls Wilder days. 

So many of us are suffering-from illnesses, loss, disappointments, fear of future. Our nation is in a heap of hurt whether it be political disagreement, racial disharmony, differences of opinions regarding vaccinations or masks, and so much more.

Contemplate this in crazy covid times: If each one of of us could live out what the Apostle Paul exhorts us to do, life could be so much better. I encourage you to encourage your family and friends to uphold each other in living life better, living life God's way: "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:4-7

Courage Through the Covid-19 Storm: Good Friday Dancing

Tips for THRIVING

Tip #5 Keep Your Eyes on God
Listen to this blog post here https://anchor.fm/karen-sue-murdy/episodes/Courage-Though-the-Covid-19-Storm-Good-Friday-Dancing-Keep-Your-Eyes-on-God-eck937


🎶"Dance then wherever you may be. I am the Lord of the dance said He." 🎶

I danced with all my heart- twirling and whirling around as I sang at the top of my 12-year- old lungs. 

"Shame on you." My beloved Grandma stopped me in my tracks, "We don't dance on Good Friday." 

Quickly Mom intervened, "But we already know how Good Friday turns into Easter Sunday. We can dance every day- even on Good Friday."  

Good Friday, the day that commemorates Jesus dying on the cross to pay the price for all my sins. And all your sins, too. Because we know how this ends, with Jesus arisen from the dead-conquering death, we say with the Apostle Paul, "For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's." (Romans 14:8). It makes me want to dance on this Good Friday.

Several people have sent me this beautiful rendition by Ten Two Six Music Group Nashville Studio Singer Community virtual cell phone choir of "It Is Well With My Soul". I encourage you to listen to it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDIJz6zzHNU


This Good Friday I ponder this verse of the song:


Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul
It is well (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul

Trials...Covid-19  
My heart goes out especially for my son as we watch his senior year at Concordia High School unfold with social distancing. Prom? His birthday? Senior Blessing? Graduation ceremony?
My heart goes out especially for my doctor husband trying to care for his sick, anxious, and hurting patients.
My heart goes out especially for you. I know you have your own story of hurt and pain with Covid-19 craziness-social distancing, economic troubles, and anxiety over possible illness or death. 
This Good Friday- even with Covid-19 and all the yuck that entails, I want to dance...Death IS conquered! 

Enter Jesus, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." (John 14:27). This was my theme verse in high school. I needed it then. I need it now. 
This Good Friday, I have peace like a river. 


It is GOOD Friday. It IS well with my soul...I am dancing! Will you join me?

A Good Friday prayer from PRAYCHS.  https://chsaustin.org/dailyprayers39 If you scroll to the bottom of this link, you can listen to the prayer (read  today by my son.)

UP NEXT TIME: EXERCISE