Yesterday, all of a sudden, Steve said, “Why are you crying?” “Crying? Who me?” I didn’t even realize that I was crying. What in the world? Then, it dawned on me that I really wasn’t crying for any specific reason – I was just letting out stress. People react in many different ways when they feel stress. Yesterday, I just started crying for no reason. You know – we are living through something that’s never happened before in our lifetime. It’s stressful! We have challenges – as a country, as a community, and as citizens. We have a sense of helplessness from forces beyond our control. We feel a sense of irretrievable loss. But, you know – it’s okay not to be okay. We don’t have all the answers – in fact, we don’t even know what the questions are right now about this virus that has enveloped our world. But, it’s okay to be afraid. I, personally don’t like being vulnerable and feeling helpless, but vulnerability is part of being resilient, which is the ability to cope and grow. We all have different responses when trauma occurs, and however you feel – that’s okay.
While it seems like the next month or more are looming ahead like a never-ending tunnel, we must remember – “This, too, shall pass.” Admiral William McRaven is quoted as saying, “We will prevail because the only thing more contagious than a virus is HOPE!” The memory verse in my Scripture Writing Schedule this week is Jeremiah 17:7, “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.” Yes, my friends, our hope is the Lord, and He will “never leave us or forsake us.” (Hebrews 13:5) Paul encouraged the church in Rome by reminding them that “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that ye may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost.” (Romans 15:13) We are in this together. It’s okay not to be okay. Simply blessed, Courtney