Additional COVID-19 Blessings

Jason Barnes, 39, is an emergency room doctor at Christus Spohn Hospital Beeville and Christus Spohn Hospital South.  During these days, he does not want to run the risk of exposing his wife, Jenna, and two young sons, Stiles and Bentley, to the Coronavirus so he has taken up residence in his boys’ treehouse in their backyard.  Dr. Barnes has been living like this for three weeks and is continuing to do so as to not expose his family to COVID-19.  Although he speaks at a distance, he is not having close contact at this time for his family’s protection.  Other medical personnel have rented RVs or trailers so as to help protect their families.

A college athlete, who broke his leg, will now have time to recover without missing out on tournaments, due to COVID-19.

Staci Spencer-Roth had back surgery to repair 3 herniated discs in her neck.  It is still very painful for her to wash and dry her hair.  Since the salons have closed, Staci was once again left to complete the task on her own.  Due to colleges having their students finish their course work at home, her daughter, Morgan, is now home and able to help.

Recently a caregiver at Thistleton Lodge Nursing Home realized that 94-year-old Ken had been sleeping with a framed picture of his wife every night.  The World War II veteran had been married to Ada for 75 years before her death.  As a surprise, the caregiver made a copy of the picture and had it made into a pillow with Ada’s image printed on it.  A small gesture made a big difference for Ken.

A high school robotics team, in Michigan, is using their 3-D printers to make face shields for their first responders.

The New England Patriots plane has been used to deliver over 1 million masks.

A retired paratrooper has been mowing the lawn for his neighbor who is deployed.

To show their appreciation, a family has gathered essential items and left them on their front porch with a sign that reads: “DELIVERY DRIVERS:  Take if you need it!  Thank you for your hard work.”

Due to the Coronavirus restrictions, a 94-year-old lady was celebrating her birthday, sitting alone in the garden area of The Alabama Oaks Senior Care Inn.  When a public utility worker found out it was her special day, he stood outside the fenced in yard and sang “Happy Birthday” to her.

The date had been added and highlighted on the calendar.  Marli Odgers, from Alabama, was scheduled to attend her Senior Prom on April 4, 2020.  Her dress and shoes had been purchased.  The long, anticipated day had arrived, but with the quarantine and school closures, the prom had been cancelled.  When Marli came downstairs that morning, she found a note from her dad.  “Today is prom.  One dance with Dad?  Will U go with me?”  That evening, Marli dressed for prom and was greeted by her father who was also dressed for the special occasion.  Songs were played as she and her dad danced together.  What a thoughtful way for a dad to honor a special daughter on what could have been a very disappointing day.

Tuesday night was to have been Senior Recognition Night for Ridge Point Panther softball pitcher, Maggie Darr, and five of her teammates.  Without the young women knowing, a parade had been planned in their honor at Camp Sienna, a sports complex where several had begun their softball playing days.  As the seniors arrived, they were pointed toward their own designated parking spot that had an enlarged picture of them on a stand.  As they stood at their spot, more than 70 cars paraded by with banners, signs, balloons, notes of encouragement, and lots of cheers.  Former teammates, current players, children, classmates, a former coach, family, a referee, and friends came out to honor, encourage, and support the Panther players.

As with other schools around the country, Poplar Springs High School in Graceville, Florida remains closed for the rest of the semester.  Principal Farica West, wanted to find a way to honor and celebrate the graduating seniors.  West reached out to the photographer who had taken the senior portraits and had him enlarge the pictures to poster size.  The graduates’ pictures are displayed on stands on both sides of the road leading into the school campus.

From Zoom meetings to phone calls to notes and letters and gifts, our grandchildren are being blessed and encouraged by their teachers, both at school and church.  Friday morning, our two youngest granddaughters were part of a drive by parade to see, wave to, and say hello to their preschool teachers.  The teachers had made signs, waved, and spoke with the children as they drove by.  There was even a bubble machine.  To the delight of our grandchildren, some bubbles even went inside the car!  What a blessing and wonderful reminder of the need and importance of community.

 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:10

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is unseen is eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18

“But be very  careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

Joshua 22:5

You are my strength, I sing praise to you;

     you, God, are my fortress,

     my God on whom I can rely.

Psalm 59:17

This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

Titus 3:8