Coronavirus Has My Spouse - How Do I Stay Calm?
Almost one month ago, I came downstairs to find my husband sitting on our screened porch, his face flushed. When I mentioned how hot he looked, he said, “I feel hot inside, too.” A quick check of his temperature revealed his temp was 100.8. We just stared at each other, a little stunned. Coronavirus, we both thought, as I laid my hand on his sweaty forehead.
Chances are, either you or someone you love may get this Coronavirus. Despite social-distancing guidelines and mask-wearing by so many, illness does happen to us mortals. It is a fact of life. But when a spouse runs a fever during a global pandemic, your mind is tempted to run to the extreme.
I can’t live without him, was my first thought. My husband takes good care of himself and exercises regularly, and he is rarely sick, so seeing him feverish flustered me. The world, with its 24-hour cable news and social media, tempts us to extremes — extremes in actions and in thought. After all, we hear more about the direst outcomes — they are the most newsworthy, of course — than we do about all the people who recover from this virus. This is why, when trouble comes, we need to run not to the TV or the Internet, but to our Lord.
Right there on the porch, where every summer morning we enjoy the chirping of birds and the breezes gently blowing our white linen porch curtains, I asked God to help me calm down and switch gears mentally. How could I best help my husband? First, we needed to get him tested. I arranged a test online, and while I was on my computer I felt moved to Google “what the Bible says about healing.” A plethora of wonderful, calming verses came up, including,
“O Lord my God, I cried out to You, and You healed me” (Psalm 30:2 NKJV).
“Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; Save me, and I shall be saved, for You are my praise” ( NKJV).
The Bible verses centered and calmed me, which made me a better helpmate to my husband.
His test did come back positive. By the time we received the result, several days later, I was leaning on the Lord for literally every move and almost every thought. This enabled me to be the wife and person that alone, without God, I just cannot be — patient, centered, and reassuring.
I re-read a few of my favorite verses in the Bible, including :
“So you shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you” (NKJV).
From the New Testament, I tried to picture this scene:
“And the whole multitude sought to touch him, for power went out from Him and healed them all” ( NKJV).
As my husband’s appetite decreased (he lost nine pounds during his illness!), I made tempting meals and prayed over them, hoping they would bring him strength and healing.
It was hard staying at least 10 feet away from him at all times, and I moved into the guest room to keep myself safe. Interestingly, God blessed me with absolutely no worries about my own health, as well as the powerful sense of being totally encircled with His love and grace. It was, incredibly, easy to pray, “Thy will be done,” and mean it with all my heart. The Holy Spirit clarified my reading and bolstered my soul during this trying time.
Was it possible that there was a gift in this illness? Jesus himself taught us about the redemption in suffering—his suffering. And while I was not the one who was ill, I seemed to be growing closer to our Lord in leaps and bounds, my dependence on him was so complete.
Will I get Coronavirus? I don’t know; the truth is, none of us does. What I do know is that I will continue to lean on God, and continue to thank and praise him for my dear husband’s return to complete health. As the Bible says,
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” ( NKJV).
We are so lucky to serve such an awesome and loving God!
Copyright © July 2020 Deirdre Reilly, used with permission.
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