Revelation 21:2" Desiring God
So from "Desiring God devotional", I read this scripture again tonight under the theme: "tears may tarry for now". A scripture which has made so much meaning when people I know have departed the world but today, it makes so much sense in relation to the chaos we're facing as people passing through this world.
The world is sick, it needs healing. Italy is sick. America is sick, my Ghana is sick. The world is sick. The tears are flowing, hearts are troubled. When shall life return back to normal?
For hours, I could sit and brood over all the reasons China was facing COVID-19. I would begin to wonder when it would end. I fell in love with China because of my sister who was just about going to China when the chaos began. I fell in love when she began to learn Chinese, the language fascinated me. I had never heard a language so funny. She made me fall in love with China.
When parents of the Ghanaian-Chinese students were calling for evacuation of the children, I was one of the people who did not want them evacuated but wanted them safe. It was so scary only for the whole world to be hit including my Ghana.
So if you know me, you know I wash my hands at the least opportunity. I wash my hands as soon as I get to work and put my bag down. I wash my hands after connecting my internet cable at work, after touching the AC remote, touching the door, I wash my hands after going to some other office and use tissues to pick up stuff prior to the pandemic. Apparently, people at work noticed and I was surprised when a colleague used it as a point of reference during a conversation at work one time sometime last year.
My hand washing history began from home. Right from the time when we were kids, my Alice-Alice is my mum would insist you wash your hands first when you get home before you speak to her. My mum taught all four of us, including my little niece who over washes her hands, it gets annoying, to wash and just wash our hands. Well, my Mum has a thing for washing hands. She would fight you for not washing your hands.
This pandemic has made me want to wash my hands more. I prefer washing my hands to using sanitizers. This pandemic has made me adjust to using sanitizers as well. I'm do it to the point that people around me notice and a lady at work had to tell me to take it easy.
One day, we woke up and all of a sudden we had to stop living. Our lives changed. People have died. Our cases have shot up to 141. People are blaming a certain Obuor for concealing the travel history of his dad. We have all become suspicious of each other. I wouldn't even waste a moment speaking to anyone when I get home.
I'm in a hurry to discard my clothes into my laundry basket and take a shower before I start a conversation. I stopped hugging people.
Yesterday, someone I hadn't seen in weeks came by my office with my favourite pizza I couldn't hug him. He sat metres away from me and this is someone with whom I probably hug sixty times when we are together. A pandemic just made us stop getting physical contact with people. I can't even give my niece the usual pecks when I get home, and she stands there saying "kiss me" then I remind her Coronavirus then she melts and says "okay after you take your bath."
We can't even go to the salon.
Or get a pedicure or a facial.
Everything is in disarray.
No church, no school. Everything is in disarray.
The Citydia workers no longer smile when you go in there. Even the security man stopped saying "hello madam". You have to disinfect everything you bring home from the shops.
The world is sick. I want this to all go away. And reading this scripture reminds me of the assurance we have in Christ. Our tears will end soon.
I still say at this point that if you do not believe in God, and this pandemic- Italy and China's case has not taught you to believe in God, at this point, then I don't know what can break you.
Though it tarries, there's light ahead.
Soon the partial lock-down in parts of Ghana will be over. Hopefully we shall record more recoveries than deaths, we pray.
Be focused on your God and stop blaming him for the pandemic. Be focused on his love and the times he's been good to China, Italy and America. For the times he made America a powerful nation. For the times he sat and watched the world turn against him but did not react and is still merciful. God is not wicked. He is faithful. Rather may the world use this pandemic to let God, and let God into each country that God alone will rule through his people.
Don't forget to wash your hands, it won't kill you. I heard a man say to the supermarket girl ensuring people wash their hands before they enter the supermarket say he's washed his hands more than ten times today and was requesting for sanitizer instead yet the girl insisted and reminded him he would be denied entry if he didn't comply.
Practice all that we've been told to, stay home if you are not an essential service provider, stay home. Don't flout the law. Those christians fighting every directive, remember, a good christian is a good citizen.
For people like me who barely stay home to bond with family, this is the time, stay home. Read and read. Bond with people via social media etc. Amazingly, I reply half the messages I receive now. Yes now I actually see them, because my schedule is not too busy and I have come to realise how I ignored people in the past.
Stay home.
Don't panic.
Check reliable sources only, for news on COVID-19 so you don't end up leaving this world out of fear.
Hold on, healing is coming!
Photo Source: Google Photos
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