Surviving Covid-19 Part 1

I’ve been thinking about writing this post for a while, but I just didn’t get around to it because I have been dealing with getting the Corona virus and all of it after affects. Just writing those words brings up so many emotions, so I know it will take me two posts to get it all out.

When you reach a certain age in life, you realize that things don’t always go the way that you want them to no matter how we try to avoid them. I say this because even the most careful of us can end up getting this crazy virus. Here is my story:

When the virus started to get bad back in March, my job went on lock down and we worked from home for 2 months. God has been good to me because I continued to work this entire year, never missed a paycheck or a meal and I still have a roof over my head. I know this is NOT the case for many people, but I am grateful to God for how my year has been.

I lost my sister in February and by May I received the surprise of my life when I received a letter about a life insurance policy in which I was name the second beneficiary (our father was the primary, but he is deceased). I was able to accomplish so much and I even brought a new car even though my other car was only a year old. So for me, this has been a great year financially. God has been good!

But just last month after being extremely careful about this virus, I was infected. I was not attending church for safety. I stopped going to the movies, don’t go to the hair or nail salon and I pretty much do nothing except get my food. No socializing or anything. But on December 3rd a co-worker came into my office and removed her mask. I had heard her talk about how uncomfortable they were and so she steps into my office and promptly removes it and stays for 15 mins. At a certain point I put my mask on, but I guess it was too late. I always look back to that day and wonder why I didn’t ask her to put it back on, or put mine on immediately, which is what I normally do, but of course hindsight is twenty-twenty.

On December 8th my boss call’s me on my work phone and informs me that this employee tested positive for the virus. Of course I was horrified because I had spent 15 minutes in my very small office with her. So I got tested and on December 12 I received the terrible news that I had tested positive. I kind of sensed it though, because by the time I go tested, I had developed this dry hacking cough and I kept wondering, why I was coughing

After the initial shock, I felt a little fear because I didn’t know what to expect. But after that subsided, I had to deal with a real rage. Honestly, it’s been a long time since I felt this angry. You see folks, wearing a mask is mainly about protecting other people. It’s really not about you! My friends and family will tell you, I was so angry, I really had to get a hold of myself. I told one of my co-workers that if the woman who infected me wasn’t working here, I would have sued her. And what made it bad was she did not apologize nor acknowledge that she gave it to me at all. Just moving along like nothing ever happened. Also, she found out she was positive, so soon after our encounter, so I wondered when she suspected she had it.

The most difficult part of all of this is that I know this could have been avoided. I believe if she had worn her mask and if I asked her to put her mask back on the outcome would have been different. I also should have put my mask on sooner. But of course there is nothing can be done about it now. The good part is my symptom’s were not too bad and I did not have to go to the hospital. As you know, many are dying from this. I had a childhood friend die leaving his wife and 4 children. Another friend stayed in the hospital for 6 months. And my former Pastor got it, got pneumonia, had a stroke and is now in a rehab, all as a result of Covid-19. And his wife got it and she was undergoing Chemo at the time. So I know that my circumstance could have been much worse. Other than extreme fatigue, and occasional cough, and losing my taste and smell. I did pretty good. But let me tell you this; Covid-19 is nothing that you want to get.

To be continued….

Life, Death, that Virus and the New Normal Pt. 2

After having my two oldest siblings die, I had so much to do, I couldn’t see straight. Especially with the death of my sister. I am the only sibling living here in Florida, so after two of my brothers came down for the memorial and to help me clean out the apartment, I was left with the aftermath of death. I hope that doesn’t sound cruel, but that is what it felt like.

At first, I was not even going to have a service, because my sister had no friends. But her church family wanted to have something and they were so gracious to help. Then, I had to forward mail, take care of the bills. I had to return the modem to the cable company, return her phone to the cell company, turn off the electric, stop this and stop that and the list goes on. And frankly, I was exhausted.

So here comes this virus, which I know it’s a curse, but it’s been a blessing for me. (I hope that doesn’t sound uncaring). I was telling my brother the other day, that in the midst of all of this, I am so blessed that I feel guilty. People are dying and losing their jobs and I am not. But my brother told me, don’t feel guilty, because we (God’s people} have a covenant with God).

Last year from January to July, I was working for a company through a government employment program. Finally, in July, my boss decided to bring me on as an independent contractor for more than double the money. In the midst of that this the Lord told me to tithe double. Now, this was a crazy sacrifice, but I obeyed and I see why I was instructed in this manner.  Just a few months of being brought on as an independent contractor, I got a raise and then finally, my boss offered me a permanent full-time position with benefits. But here is what is the real blessing. I switched to the company payroll, right before this virus, which has afforded me the security of 60 days’ pay since the company is shut down. And even after the 60 days, there is an emergency fund. We are working from home, but it’s pretty much like a vacation. The workload is very light and we have a staff meeting once a week and we can report our 80 hrs every two weeks!! I want to shout for joy every time I think about it. I got on the payroll just in the nick of time! I had been going non-stop since my brother’s death, so this interruption for me had been a blessing in disguise.

See why I feel guilty? I am well aware that this is not the experience of many others. Some are sick, some have buried loved ones, and some don’t know how they are going to pay their bills, but all I can say is those of us that love God, we have a covenant! Now that doesn’t mean nothing bad can happen, but it means that we are covered through the good the bad and the ugly!

If you want God’s covering over your life you need to accept Jesus, as your Lord and savior! Accept Christ today, so you can be in covenant too!

John 3:16 New International Version (NIV)

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 10:9-10 New International Version (NIV)

⁹ If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.