Surviving this Strange Year with God’s Grace

This has been a strange and perilous year so far. I have had three hospital stays since Christmas, two for bowel obstructions, and one to remove the carcinoid tumor that was causing them. I’m home recovering now.

Because of the coronavirus my husband, Jeff, was not allowed to even enter the hospital with me for my surgery. He got out of the car and walked me to the door and hugged me goodbye. I had to give my name at the first desk and get a tag, and then as they were taking me to the station where I needed to check in, I looked back and saw Jeff still standing outside the glassed entrance watching me.

He is so protective of me. I know it was hard for him to let me go. And I wanted the strength and comfort of his presence with me. But I had a team of friends and family covering me in prayer. And I felt those prayers.

And I continue to feel those prayers and I see God’s blessings around me. And lessons I learned as I cared for Mom during all the Alzheimer’s struggles and storms continue to help me now…

Look to God for grace for each day. Don’t look forward too much. Just take one day at a time. Pray and trust that God IS giving you grace to get through THIS day.

Ask Him to open your eyes to see His daily mercies. Because they are there. Sometimes we just don’t see them. Sometimes I see His mercies in a call from a grandchild or a text from a friend. Sometimes I sense His tender love in a sunny day or a bouquet of flowers or a card that cheers my heart. Every day look for His fingerprints of love.

Thank Him for His goodness. It helps me to end my day by writing in my desk calendar the things that have happened, and noting the “God smiles”. It helps me to remember that my Abba Father loves me and is watching over me. Life is hard, but I am in His hands and He is good!

Remember to pray for others. It’s easy to feel sorry for myself. I’m still recovering from surgery. This week I have to get an ultrasound because something else showed up when I was being scanned before surgery. My husband has been looking for work for over a year, etc.

But everyone has struggles. Everyone needs prayer and encouragement. And in a sense it helps me to know I’m not alone in that. And it’s good and right to lie in a hospital bed with a list and pray for others. It gets the focus off myself. It helps me feel a little bit useful, because even if I can’t do anything else to help, I know prayer is powerful.

This is a strange and perilous year for the whole world. But our God is mighty to save. Our Abba Father watches over us. He protects us and provides for us. He sent Jesus so our sins are pardoned as we trust in Him.

He calls us His children. And we are! And He delights to give good gifts to us! Let’s remember to notice His daily blessings and thank Him with grateful hearts!