Women’s Ministry Minute
May 28, 2020
With Betty Lievano
When the spark of COVID-19 ignited into flame in our country this past March, Jim and I were visiting our daughter Stephanie and husband Steve in Florida. Jim was in Tampa for a three day EMS conference before he joined me in Orlando were Stephanie lives. While at his conference, three people tested positive for the virus in Tampa the day before he left for Orlando. For the duration of our visit most of the conversation was centered around COVID-19: shortages of PPE supplies, the incubation period of fourteen days before symptoms appear, shortages of respirators in the hospitals. Since we have three members of our family in healthcare, the scariest concerns started upon hearing the news of healthcare providers contracting the virus and dying from it. At the same time we were in Florida our son Paul and his family were winding down their vacation in California and getting ready to fly back home to Texas. At that time they hadn’t heard much about what was about to hit until shortly after they got home. The day after returning home, our daughter-in-law went back to work in the ER only to find more than average amounts of people there with symptoms and wanting to be tested. Needless to say, it was a difficult situation no one was prepared for. It left us all anxious about the future. In the nick of time before flights were canceled, Jim and I returned home from Florida. When Jim returned to work things were rough here as well. There were so many meetings about changes of how things were to be done, or not done. Shortages of PPE was a challenge for medics. Seven medics showed symptoms and were sent home for a two week quarantine (everyone was fine), which left the ambulance service extremely short staffed. Luckily and not surprisingly, the call volume went down significantly because very few people wanted to be transported and admitted to the hospital for fear of catching the virus. In the beginning, Jim was very concerned about a lot of things. The biggest concern that was mostly on his mind was unknowingly bringing the virus home with him and getting me sick, but God has a way to comfort us whenever we need it. You see, about five or so years ago, I painted Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God” on a rock. I tucked it away and a couple of months ago, I found it in a box and put it on the window sill by the kitchen sink. Jim was washing his hands one day and noticed it. He told me that that painted rock was so encouraging that every time he feels things are falling apart at work, he just pictures the rock and remembers “Be still...”. For the past four years now God has put on my heart to work on my relationship with Him (long list). I’m so glad that He did, and that I responded to Him with gratitude and obedience. I can’t imagine what it would be like for me going through this if my pride got in the way and I didn’t respond to God with a willing heart. I believe He was preparing me not only for this situation that we are all facing now, but, also for great and awesome things in my family’s and my future; I now have full confidence in that, no matter the circumstances! I’m now able (without perfection of course), with His strength and wisdom to find peace and rest by “capturing every thought and making it obedient to Christ.” 2 Cor 10:5. For me the most encouraging scripture has been Psalm, chapter 91.