Month: July 2020

I spent all last week in Roanoke, Virginia. This has been the first time I’ve ventured into an airport since the COVID-19 pandemic caused a shutdown of travel and effectively isolated all of us. I felt totally safe and feel the airports and airlines are taking precautions that will help slow the spread of this virus.

I made this trip to spend time with my Mom, MaryAnn Young. Mom, who is 90 years young, has been staying with my youngest sister and her family for the past several years. She normally goes back to the farm in North Dakota each summer, but this has not been a normal year!

My sister’s husband’s family gets together at a lakeside resort in Minnesota each summer for their vacation. Mom has been experiencing severe pain due to a much-needed hip replacement and didn’t want to travel, so my sister asked me to spend the week with her in Virginia. This was not in my plans. Actually, my grandson was to visit us in Colorado, and many plans and schedules had to be changed. God, of course, already knew this — He just hadn’t shared His plans with me. Mom and I made meals together, played cards, enjoyed movies (Hallmark Christmas movies, if you can believe it!), sat on the deck filled with herbs and flowers, and slept late each morning. I guess it was a vacation for me, too!

My Mom cherishes her large photograph collection. She loves taking pictures and receiving them. At the farm she has countless albums, each sorted by years. Many of her favorite photos have been scanned
onto her iPad, and she loves the memories they awaken. It’s good to look back and remember, and it’s good to make new memories. That’s what Mom and I did last week. We laughed and we cried. Sometimes we just sat in silence and listened to the birds. What a gift this week was for me!

Today, I remember last week with Mom. I thank God for a safe and wonderful trip, and I look forward to the next time I get to be with Mom. Isn’t it interesting that everything works as God planned it?

Thank you, Father, for Your plans for my life. How good it is to know You are always with me!
Today, and always, we are surrounded by HIS grace,
Debbie

I’m tired of COVID-19. I’d love it if we could go back to meeting in public places, hugging, and eating in crowded restaurants. I wish we didn’t have to make difficult decisions about getting together or traveling. I want a cure for the Coronavirus or a vaccine — now. Yes, I may be having a pity party!

A while back, my good friend Jan Schmidt wrote a devotion about finding a cure and referenced Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria (2 Kings 5). He had wealth, he had power, he had servants, he had it all except his health. He was a leper. She also talked about the Roman army centurion who had a valued servant who was dying (Matthew 8:5). Both Biblical accounts give witness to God’s power to heal.

In this world and at this time, we also are looking for vaccinations or cures, particularly for COVID-19. Many companies and scientists are racing to find a vaccine. But let’s remember, only God has the power to cure.

I thank God for providing the knowledge needed for developing vaccines. I thank God for providing for
us as we live on this earth and I praise Him for providing the ultimate cure — the cure from eternal damnation caused by my own sin. Jesus Christ is the cure and we don’t need to ‘find’ Him. He seeks us out.

I am tired of COVID-19. I want everything to go back to normal but I need to remember that normal for many is dealing with poverty, depression, cancer, or other diseases that are chronic or terminal. Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33b). I hope this blog isn’t a downer for you. I hope, in the midst of your tribulations you find refuge in the arms and promises of our Savior. By God’s grace, I will call upon the Lord and ask that He give me
patience (I need a lot of that!) and I will trust in Him and seek His will.

Today, and always, we are surrounded by HIS grace,
Debbie