She hath wings

Tonight I finally accepted that Victoria wasn’t going to go back to zero Covid cases in the foreseeable future. It was such a blow – we worked so hard for it in 2020 and the start of 2021. If not for those months of respite when we could almost return to life without worry of Covid, I would have wondered if it were in vain.

Today the Premier stated that case numbers, in fact, would surely increase. Not even the optimist within me could make that go away. I felt the strain already this week – in the midst of our 6th lockdown, and only halfway through as declared today, even the children are increasingly more gloomy, despite their ability to lose themselves in imaginative play. When everyone had gone to bed and I found myself in the quiet at 10.30pm I should have felt elated – silence is hard to come by thesedays. Yet, I wanted company in the room – I just didn’t want to have process anyone else’s issues. I wanted space for my own thoughts. How difficult it is to process them in this season of my life.

Thinking about some other events this past week, I am able to finally step back from it all. My father experienced a number of miracles which resulted in him being able to recover at home instead of being stuck in hospital for weeks, wondering if he would make it out to see us all again. It seems as though the rollercoaster has finally returned to the ground. It will be a challenging road ahead, but I am so grateful that he is here to tell his story. One day I hope to have permission to write it in full – it would help so many people.

I watched the news of Kabul closely – feeling as though any lockdown would be better than permanent hiding. It was hard to make sense of how some got rescued but many didn’t. Tonight, I listened to a beautiful song sung by Nicole Mullins which made me cry by the time I was a few minutes in . I was so grateful to the kind friend who sent it to me in the moments when I felt so downcast. It was as if God had tapped her on the shoulder to send it to me, so that I would know the truth.

It is very easy to feel like a statistic thesedays. You have either had Covid or not had Covid. You have either recovered, are recovering or sadly, you didn’t make it. Life is more than that. Life is precious and unique for each individual. We didn’t lose that in 2020. God didn’t stop noticing us when our world changed forever. He has felt every pain that we have and come alongside us.

Tonight I was reminded afresh, that God sees me (and you!). I have no less purpose than I had before. I still have access to that same power that raised up Jesus, through knowing and following Him. I’m not defeated or less of a person because I am in a tough season.

It is so important that we reach out and encourage others in these times. That timely word or song or gift on the doorstep will disarm and keep those channels of communication open. We mustn’t shut down. This is a time to embrace the vulnerable in each other and help each other stay strong.