with Carolyn Goff
Again, I am sorry I did not have my news in last week.
Happy belated birthday to Ethan Long and Michael Haynie on May 3 and Orban Goff on May 5. I hope you all had a good birthday despite our restrictions for the coronavirus.
This week, the birthdays are Ross Hopper on May 7, Courtney Howell on May 9 and Benny Barnette on May 10. I hope you have wonderful day.
Please continue to pray for our neighbors and friends in our community and other communities: Kristen Carlton Jones, Tim Landers, Brianna Landers, Gary Hyatt, Carolyn Brasfield, Jim Ruth, Eloise Murley, Samantha Mosier, Woodie Deming, Betty Quarles, Ms. June Davis and my cousin Barbara Sue Mitchell.
I have felt bad for a long time and felt weak a lot. I went to the doctor a couple of weeks ago and have gone several times in the last year or so, and she tested me for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and it showed that I had had it at “sometime.” I have no idea when it could have been, but I have had spells of fatigue and weakness for at least two years. She gave me the medication they give for it, and then Friday, I found a tick that had been there awhile and was puffy but not red or infected, but I went on to the doctor the next day. See. I am paranoid now. She gave me another prescription for one high dose to be on the safe side. They are really bad at our place. We are surrounded by trees so I guess that is part of it. Orban comes in every day with some on him.
Pray for our community as well as others, our law enforcement and first responders and our medical personnel. Praise God for the doctors and nurses and everyone involved with treating the virus patients. My grandson’s wife is one of them, and I am so proud of her and of all of them. Galatians 6:2 – “Carry each other’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
Things have really gone from bad to worse. There is so much on the news, and it is hard to keep up. No one knows how this is going to turn out and what life holds in store for us. All we can do is put our trust in the Lord and pray. Try not to stress, and I am the worst to give that advice.
Please keep up all of the precautions. The cities and counties are opening up just about everything, which is good for our economy, but we have got to be diligent with our safety. I watched some of 60 Minutes Sunday night, and I sat there and cried for people they were interviewing that have lost their jobs and businesses. It is really worse than we can imagine.
Our devotion: You can find this devotional on the YouVersion Bible App. “As we’re more isolated from each other than ever before, three biblical stories help us think about new ways we can work together.
“Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus, he was struck down by a light that both opened his eyes and blinded him. This can be a good metaphor for a crisis moment. In a crisis, we are at once blinded and have our eyes opened in new ways. In this crisis, you may feel temporarily sightless. You don’t know exactly what the next days or months will bring.
“At the same time, you may also start seeing life in a new light. Maybe you are realizing that you’re more dependent on other people than you had thought, or that the world is more interconnected than you had imagined. In a time of crisis, God’s encouragement can often come from other people.
“After Paul’s life-changing experience on the road to Damascus, Paul went into the city where a man came to help him. This Christian prayed that Paul might see again. Following his prayers, Paul was completely restored to health.
“This story shows that even if your sight is limited, you are not alone. God sends other people to you for encouragement, fellowship, and help.”
This is a hard time to write my column. I want to say things to encourage people, but I can not find the words. Just remember we have to trust the Lord to take care of us. Things are hard for all of us but so much more for the ones out of work and especially the ones with the coronavirus and their families. It is so hard for families who lose loved ones and can not have a funeral for them, for the ones with a family member in the hospital and can not visit and for the patients. I heard that some patients have said wonderful things about the nurses and stated that they were their family during their stay.
I will be praying for our community and everyone. God bless you and keep the faith!
My number is 879-9777, and email is goffc65@hotmail.com.
Please call, email or text with anything you would like to share. I know we have had new people move into our community and new babies. Send the birthdays for me to add to my list.
