For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. ~2 Timothy 1:7

That’s can be difficult to understand or believe when life throws you a curve ball, such as it has done recently with the Coronavirus known as Covid 19. I’m a mom of two grown boys, both of whom continue to work. One is more shielded as he works overnights with only one other person. My other son works for a pharmacy chain traveling from store to store. I also have a beloved grandmother, Nana, who is 100 years old. I help to care for her, as do her wonderful neighbors. She still lives alone in the house I’ve known all my life.

As you can see, worry and fear are part of my daily routine. That is why I seek out wisdom for keeping all of us healthy, and encouragement for my heart and soul.

For each of you reading, know I am praying for you, your situation, your health and the wellbeing of your family. I hope words bring you comfort.

Wisdom for Keeping our Family Healthy

My sister is a nurse, and I remember years ago she shared with me her routine when she would get home from work in order to keep her family from contracting some mega germ. She’s very wise and I want to share that wisdom with all of you.

Kids and family are not allowed to greet here until all of the following is complete:

• Come in through the garage or side door.
• Remove shoes and disrobe from there using a plastic bag as a hamper for all your clothes.
• Put on a clean disposable or bleachable pair of socks, or a pair of slippers only for this use to walk through the house.
• Immediately go into the shower and thoroughly wash everything from head to toe. Take your time and remember to get behind your ears, under your fingernails, and every other nook and cranny.
• Dry off, get into clean clothes.
• Now you can greet your family.
• As for the clothing in the plastic hamper, use rubber gloves to handle the bag and dump clothing directly into washer to clean immediately. Dispose of plastic bag (using rubber gloves) outside into trash can.
• Wash hands for 20 seconds minimum.

For anyone who is deemed an essential worker, is making deliveries of any kind, works in healthcare, pharmacies, or is even the one in the family who goes out to get groceries or prescriptions – if you are going out and mixing with other people in any way for any reason, taking the above steps is a great way to come back into your home in order to keep loved ones safe.

Encouragement for Your Heart and Soul

I remember September 11, 2001. My older son had just started kindergarten days before and my younger was still a toddler. I was glued to the television for weeks. I “needed” to know every bit of news. I feared we would be attacked again. I prayed they would find survivors. I wanted to know right away if there were any changes or new news day and night.

It was a month I will never get back; a month where my family got very little of me, and the TV and radio got all of me. Thankfully it didn’t damage my relationships, but it did have a lasting effect on my psyche as there are images I will never forget – terrible images that may very well have been replaced with the laughter of friends and family had I not become so overwhelmed by those events.

Back then, I did not have a strong relationship with God. I was a busy stay-at-home mom who “had it all under control.” It would be two years beyond 9-11 before I allowed God to break through and show me what real hope was. He showed me that I was not in control of anything, but He was. He revealed that watching TV and social media shows me very little, but He sees all. He assured me that I could sleep because He hears everything.

God knows all. I don’t have to be glued to the TV, radio, or social media to know every detail of the spread of Covid 19. Of course, there are updates I need to know, such as the latest legislation enacted by our governor, changes of store hours, any travel bans, and how to get tested should anyone in our family become ill. Those things I need to know. Beyond that, everything else is superfluous.

What we truly need is encouragement through these times. We need to fill our hearts, souls, and lives with hope and here are some great ways to do that:

Don’t Panic. Don’t allow fear to discourage you. We can take precautions to keep ourselves healthy while being a calm example to those who all who are frightened by what is happening.

Be kind and Show Understanding. We hear of people hoarding necessities and others reselling for ridiculous prices. Don’t repay their actions with mean social media posts.

Fear is a strong emotion that drives people to do things that they would not normally do, like hoarding. There is a strong sense of fight or flight in each of us. For many, this sense is active in the midst of all that is going on. If you see someone at the store, ask them how they’re holding up. Show them that you care.

Share. Reach out to your neighbors to make sure they are ok. Share resources: Toilet paper, soap, food items, etc. Not only will it help those in need, but it will give all of us a sense of community and compassion – something all of us need.

All of these actions are actions of love. When so many are kept up in our homes, some alone and feeling isolated, these actions can be lifesaving in so many ways. Below are some Scriptures to help you control your fears and focus on kindness, understanding, compassion, and love.

Bless and be blessed dear reader…

To Combat Fear

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ~Philippians 4:6-7

But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. ~Isaiah 43: 1-2

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ~Philippians 4:8

Kindness and Understanding

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. ~Ephesians 4:32

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. ~Luke 6:35

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. ~Colossians 4:6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. ~Proverbs 3:5

Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. ~Proverbs 3:13-18

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. ~1 Peter 4:8

Sharing and Compassion

Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed. ~Proverbs 19:17

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. ~Hebrews 13:16

Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you. ~Luke 6:38

And he [Jesus] answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” ~Luke 13:11

Let all that you do be done in love. ~1 Corinthians 16:14