Wednesday, January 5, 2022

On Living with Omicron

If you don't know one single soul who's been impacted by covid in the last few weeks, my guess is that you're living in the proverbial cave.

It's everywhere you look.  

Yesterday it hit me that I had lost count of how many in my extended family either had covid symptoms, been diagnosed with covid, or had been tested for it, in some cases repeatedly.  Of how many trips and gatherings and plans have been tossed to the wind in recent weeks.  Of the number of conversations with frustrated people who are searching for accurate information or testing sites. 

By yesterday afternoon, I felt like I was having an out of body experience.

I'm not here to tell you how to navigate this ongoing covid reality.  For sure, nothing can be more divisive these days than heated, opinionated dialogue about masks and vaccines and mandates.  

But I am here to let you know you're not alone in the uncertainty of this mess.  And that precious 'peace that passes understanding' is ours as we trust in God to see us through, stretch our faith, and equip us to be hope-givers to other weary sojourners.

Let's live one day at a time.  Refuse to doom-scroll or constantly imagine worst-case scenarios.  Carry buckets of water instead of gasoline cans to put out the fires of frustration and dissention.  Choose to make wise decisions based on science and wisdom instead of fear, FB, or political punditry.  

Do whatever is possible to care for ourselves.  Love others well by protecting those we come in contact with.

And point each other to the Prince of Peace.

Peace I leave with you;
 my peace I give you.
I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled
and do not be afraid.
- John 14:27 -

Linda

for information
check with your 
County Health Department

Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention

Mayo Clinic

WebMD

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3 HOURS LATER

This prayer request just came in from Martha Orlando's husband, Danny.  {Martha blogs at Meditations of my Heart}.  I share it with his permission. 
 
This is Danny, Martha's husband.  Martha is in the hospital with bacterial pneumonia.  It's going to be a while before she is back blogging or reading blogs.  She asked me to let you know what was going on.  How we got into this situation, I do not know.  It is not covid related.  Please say a prayer for her, she could really use the help.

Dear Lord,

We are grateful that You are very present with Martha right now, holding her tenderly and with great love.  May her hospital room be a sacred space where You do Your healing work in her body.  Calm her mind and soul with an extraordinary sense of Your peaceful presence.  Please guide the keen minds and kind hands of those who give her care.  Bless Danny and family during this difficult trial.  You know how deeply she loves them ... and You.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen. 

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connecting with 
Jeanne/Lisa J  &  Richella  &  Lisa

48 comments:

  1. I find that verse has been such a comfort to me in the last few years. Thanks for sharing it along with your words of concern and kindness.

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    1. It's a 'life verse' for sure, Debby, isn't it. Praise God for His Word.

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  2. Amen and Amen! John 14:27 provides comfort in these unsettled times. Thank you, Linda for always pointing to God’s Word!

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  3. Yes, let's form a bucket brigade!

    *a subscriber

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  4. I'm so sorry there are so many in your extended family, Linda. I pray they all recover well. Amen to "Carry buckets of water instead of gasoline cans to put out the fires of frustration and dissention." Sometimes all we can do is cry, "LORD, HELP!" Thank you for being open and honest, dear friend. Love and hugs and blessings of peace to you!

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    1. LORD, HELP! says it all. I'm so grateful He knows our hearts' cry even before we know it ourselves!

      Thankfully, our family symptoms are fairly mild. But I know others who are experiencing so much worse. This is a hard time.

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    2. Thank you for the added prayer for Martha! ❤️🙏🏻

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  5. I understand how difficult this whole thing is to navigate. We are grateful every day for life, and live knowing that whether we live or die, we know the ONE whom we get to spend eternity with. That has been a great source of comfort in all of this. Fear is of the enemy, peace comes from the Lord. Love the verse you shared! Blessings, and hope!

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    1. You're so right, Marilyn, the enemy loves fear and the havoc it creates in our bodies, our relationships, our communities. He prowls around looking for whoever he can devour. Gratefully, we know and love the One who holds us close and never lets us go.

      'Greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world' {1 John 4:4}.

      Praise be.

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  6. I am praying that you are soon well, Linda; also your family and friends who may be ill.

    God bless you all.

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    1. Victor, I trust that you and yours are all well across the pond, friend ...

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  7. I included a prayer for Martha on my other blog (https://livingintheshadow.ovcf.org/2022/01/04/january-4-3/). Now for your thoughts. I had COVID back last Christmas and it decided to stick around awhile and radically change my life. I went from a healthy, muscular 223 to a wimp at 175 in 4 weeks. Our daughter, Tami, has been dealing with parosmia (distorted smell) and the one for distorted taste since March. I have a little bit of the parosmia on certain foods and smells. Jo & I are double vaxxed and to get our booster tomorrow. I'm not crazy about the vax but I did it to give others peace of mind when around me. Same with the booster. Hopefully, we will have learned from the first and second time and not panic this time. I believe it is a personal choice and will respect whatever someone chooses.

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    1. Bill, I appreciate you sharing your story. And you're right, anything traumatic like this changes our lives ... and the lives of those who care about us.

      I agree with your observation --> 'I'm not crazy about the vax but I did it to give others peace of mind when around me. Same with the booster.'

      This is not only a precaution we get for ourselves, but also a gift to our loved ones around us. We don't live in a vacuum. And no one wants to look back with regrets for something left undone. Or end up not being able to be near loved ones in their time of need.

      And yes, I join you in believing it's a personal choice and will respect whatever someone chooses. This is a tender topic. May each of us feel free to 'speak the truth in love.'

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  8. First and foremost, praying for Martha and Danny.

    Delta variant, omicron,
    no mortal's had an answer,
    and I may soon be dead and gone
    from neither, but from cancer.
    Or maybe in this modern age
    upon my lawless hill
    I may be shot by one whose rage
    calls him to a kill.
    But I don't care and never mind,
    not putting on an air,
    for although I am not blind
    I do not need to care
    'bout what befalls the earthly me,
    for I'm saved for God's eternity.

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    1. Praying God's protection over you, Andrew. Stay away from those lawless hills!

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  9. Linda, you are a precious oasis to us all in these dark, troubled times. I have never seen such as what we are witnessing play out before our eyes. Mom used to tell me, "Cheryl, there will come a time when God's people will be begging for Jesus to come back." I would think, "Oh, no, I love life too much. I would never do that, etc." Boy, was I wrong. I actually pray for Him to come back now. I see no other way of this world being set right other than for Him to come - our Prince of Peace and Lord of Lords. I miss Him. I know that sounds insane, but it is the only way I can describe what I am feeling in my spirit. I long for Him like never before, and that's saying a lot because I have loved Him with all my heart and hungered after Him for as long as my mind can remember. Surely He will come soon and take us out of this chaos. I am SO sorry to hear about dear Martha. Bless her dear heart. She is so sweet and dear. I hate to think of her suffering. Your prayer was so anointed. May God hear and answer on her behalf. I love you, sweet friend.

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    1. I hear your heart, friend. More than ever I'm feeling like 'this world is not my home.' I'm no prophet or biblical scholar, but I can't help but believe we are living in the last days. So, yes, let's continue to pray, 'Thy will be done.' And, 'come quickly, Lord Jesus.'

      He knows.

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  10. I will surely pray for Martha and your extended family. I just keep trying to keep my eyes on Jesus. He is our only hope. God bless you Linda for sharing God's precious Word with us and especially during these most trying times. Hugs and blessings, Cindy

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    1. Cindy, I love that Hebrews 12 verse --> 'Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.'

      He never changes like 'shifting shadows' and in that truth there is peace and a steadying encouragement.

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  11. I agree with Bill…not crazy about the vaccine but all meds have a risk factor — even vitamins so vaxxing is the lesser of other evils.

    Sadly, church is the only place I feel unsafe cause some are taking no precautions. I believe vaccinations are a persaonal choices and God knows how much I struggled with that choice. But masks and distancing are a precaution I readily feel obligated to do. Another choice is to stay home which I have also been doing when necessary. Some are hoping omicron with eventually provide herd immunity and wouldn’t that be sheer joy.

    Life goes on no matter and God is still good when life isn’t.

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    1. Carol, yes, let's focus on the goodness of God. Thank you for reminding us of Who we love and serve. All will be well because He wrote the end of the story.

      Meanwhile, we do what we can to stay safe and yet still reach out. It's a hard balance but let's trust in Him for that kind of discernment.

      Miss you! We'll talk soon, ok?

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  12. What a beautiful verse you share, Linda. I know for myself, I will not live in fear. God knows when each of us will be called to our heavenly home. Prayers for Martha. Thank you for sharing. 🙏🏻

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    1. Dear Kitty - thank you for reminding us that our ultimate goal is not staying healthy here on earth, but instead arriving to our heavenly home.

      Bless you.

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  13. Blessings for Martha and her family. He is on watch. God, bless us all.

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    1. He is on watch.

      No truer words were spoken.

      We have no need to fear.

      Amen.

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  14. Wise words you share here. One day at a time, buckets of water. All good wishes for returned health to all of your family and prayers for Martha as well.

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    1. Yes, praying for Martha even as we speak. Thanks for joining us, friend.

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  15. I love the "buckets of water" instead of "gasoline". There are way too many Covid debates out there! I've seen Martha's comments on a few blogs. I will keep her in my prayers.

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    1. Prayer beats debates any day of the week, doesn't it!

      So glad you're here, Regina.

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  16. Amen. It has been a grief to me that so many, especially among those who know the Lord, have responded to this situation with divisiveness.

    It doesn't help that we've gotten conflicting information from the officials who are supposed to be guiding us. But I understand that the science is still new, so it might take a while to get the facts and best treatment down.

    None of our immediate family has had Covid, though different ones have had to be tested due to someone in their contacts with it. It has run through half our church, though everyone came out ok. Two sets of sibling-in-laws had it, two in ICU, one passed away two days before Christmas.

    Just prayed for Martha.

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    1. You're so right, Barbara, it is a great grief, not only the virus itself, but the way the enemy has used it to divide us as families, churches, communities, the country.

      Our hope is that God will redeem all of this, somehow, for His glory. That's our prayer. He is able!

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  17. You're so right, Linda. I've been hearing of SO many around us getting covid again. My brother-in-law came down with symptoms the day after our in-the-house Christmas gathering. :( He tested positive the day after that. We all laid low for 5 days afterwards, but nobody else caught it. Our state health department has basically said we all will get it sooner or later. Sigh. We just had a friend's sister pass away from it today. I'll be SO glad when this is gone. Stay well, my friend!

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    1. Yep, Christmas celebrations seem to be a big factor for the uptick in cases, even when everyone has been vaccinated. {Although I know of one family where several people came to a gathering knowing they had recently tested positive.}

      Ugh. That's a whole other story, isn't it.

      So frustrating to navigate all the ins and outs and daily changes, especially when trying to do the 'right thing.'

      Be safe and well, friend ...

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  18. Linda, great words here, our true peace comes from God and we must rest in HIM! Beautiful prayer fro Martha as well, thank you!

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    1. It's so good whenever we can be united in prayer for each other. Prayer changes things, it changes us, it touches the heart of the Father.

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  19. I agree with this, Linda, "Point each other to the Prince of Peace."

    Agreeing with your prayer for Martha's healing, well-being, and peace in the midst of the journey.

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    1. And I love how we all are abke point to the Prince of Peace in our writing, creativity, giftedness, empathy, mercy, and care. So many ways to reach out, to reach up.

      Thank You, Lord!

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  20. wow you nailed the feeling. Yes I have lost count too. Keeping my eyes and hopes on Jesus helps to calm me and bring peace. Thanks for expressing this so well.

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    1. It kind of helps to know we're not alone. We just found out that my mom was exposed to covid at the care facility she lives in and now needs to 'shelter in place' ... not that she was going anywhere anyway. It's been a very unsettling experience for her. It makes me so sad.

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  21. Four of our family were sick since Christmas - but all are on the mend now. You are so right - lean into God, trust - and love well!

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    1. On the mend. Yay! Trusting that omicron is on its way out the door for us all. Bless you, Maryleigh.

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  22. I am so sorry for those in your family who are sick. Praying for all as there are so many - and for Martha Orlando - may the Lord bring healing to the sick, peace to all of us, fill our hearts with His love, and bind His people together. Blessings!

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    1. Yes, continuing to pray with you for Martha. Not hearing anything is a bit concerning.

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  23. Linda, I so appreciate your heart in this post. Let's be life-givers, not fire starters. Thanks for the news about Martha. I'm adding her to my prayer list. Scary stuff.

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    1. It's so good to re-connect with you this week, Jeanne! I hope that your break was refreshing and that all is well.

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    2. Thanks, friend. It definitely was!

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