I find it interesting that there are certain words and phrases that become a part of our every day language in times of crisis. I remember Y-2K, when the world was going to end because of the computer calendars would reset to 0000. Terrorism and Ground Zero became common terms around the house while "9-11" created problems for 911 emergency services. Today we hear terms like Bio Warfare, containment, isolation, and Stay Home Orders in response to the Covid-19 epidemic. PPE's (Personal Protection Equipment) are in short supply, and stay-at-home mom's are creating face-masks so quickly they compete with the medical industry for mass production.
I felt it was time to start to take this current day crisis to heart and start protecting myself from the "unseen enemy" that is creating havoc in the streets, layoffs from work, and conflict in the home.
I believe we are all responsible for our own "Personal Protection." We should be prepared for circumstances that we didn't create, but do what we can to have influence over them. Is anyone talking about Personal Protection Equipment for your mind, for your heart, for your spirit? Very few people are offering more than "We're all in this together," which I translate as, "It sucks, but misery loves company." Where is the hope for the future, encouragement for today, and the skills to prepare for tomorrow's emotional tidal-waves that are gathering off the cost of America. What will it look like when the Stay-Home order is lifted, front doors open, and everyone is expected to return to work as if they've just returned from a 3 month vacation. What is going to happen when students who have been forced to be home with stressed out parents are suddenly now supposed to sit up straight and focus on their assignments? How are individuals who lived in terror afraid of dying, or who knew someone who was infected, or worse knew someone who died of the disease are all expected to return to their "normal" lives...and they can't. What then? Are we prepared to address those broken hearts who are grieving the lost lives, the families who shut out their grandparents as a means of protecting them, and children who were left in the dark, to fend for themselves as their parents argued and battled each other because they couldn't get out of the house; what about them?
Already, Encouragers Counseling & Training Centers is seeing the beginnings of the waves rising with schools requesting therapy for children and finding a lack of therapists to help them. For that reason, we are taking the offensive and are hiring therapists who can rise to the call, ready and able to stand along side those who were hurting before the pandemic, but who recently suffered in silence locked away in their homes.
We stand by you ready to console you, comfort you, and encourage you.
"Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you
and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul."
3 John 1:2
Day 78: Console