The following blog post is part 2 of my journey with Covid this summer.
Journal entry – July 30 – We are definitely better. Praise God! Noah and I are both feeling better. I could smell my soap this morning! I couldn’t taste my coffee but maybe tomorrow!
I’ve been thinking about all of the prayers of the people. It’s another time in my life when I couldn’t pray and needed the prayers of the faith community.
The prayers of the faith community have often been water to my thirsty soul. Sometimes the prayers of others have been my link to God when I have been unable to pray.
When I was in Divinity School, Noah and I lost a child in miscarriage. We were devastated. I was angry with God. I could not pray. I did not want to pray.
During my recovery, my worship and liturgy professor called and offered me two thoughts that I have held close to my heart over the past 30 years.
“Trish, when you can’t pray, pray the Psalms.”
“Trish, when you can’t pray, this is the time you let the faith community pray for you.”
So many people were faithfully praying for Noah and me while we were sick. Covid isolates people physically – as evidenced by the sign on our front door warning of entry into our home: “Warning: Do Not Enter. We have Covid.” The sign did not stop the community of faith from texts, emails, calls, cards and prayers. People that we will never know were praying for us, not because of us, but because of YOU . . . the people of faith who believe in prayer. People from all over the county, maybe the world, prayed for us.
That’s what the faith community does. They pray for one another and with one another. I’ve experienced those prayers when I’ve been sick, tired, thankful, searching, angry, afraid . . . in all times.
Thank you for believing that God hears the cry of our hearts. Never underestimate the hope and love that others experience through your prayers – the prayers of the people of God.
Thanks be to God for you and your faithful prayers.
Trish thank you for you incredible witness during this difficult time. I’ve been operating on “autopilot” as a health care provider. For the last few months, personally, I’ve been devastated by the loss of my dad and the subsequent care of my mom who lives 5 hrs away. Some days I feel I just can’t do it again! Your struggle with illness and the difficulty in “facing God” with the normal Praise and Thanks approach is humbling and inspiring to me. We are all in this together but we are apart! I long for a reunion!
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Thank you, Donna, for your honest words. My prayers are with you as you care for your Mom and for your patients. Sending love to you and Carl!
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I remember very well when you had the miscarriage and the trauma surrounding that loss.
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and I remember you being with me, holding my hand both literally and figuratively. Thank you!
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