On my facebook feed, your post about this appeared between my unvaccinated mom's post that ended "you can have a degree and still be an idiot" and my sister's (also unvaccinated) "The government sells fear so they can become your savior. Christ says "fear not" because he is your savior. I choose Christ." Besides how hard ordinary life feels, I'm frustrated and worried over friends and family who have these attitudes. I'm now one of the "idiots" in their minds, which of course hurts from those I love.
Well, this made me cry. I literally said to my husband this morning - I am just so exhausted. I am so tired from thinking through every single decision and watching the rest of the world go on like a pandemic is not happening. Tired from explaining to my (vaccinated) 13 year old that he may be one of the only ones wearing a mask at school - but the right decision isn't always the popular decision. Tired from homeschooling my first grader to protect her (and I am NOT a teacher). Tired from worrying about my unvaccinated 5th grader who is in person because I can't give her what she needs academically at home. So.very.tired. So, thank you.
I’ve never subscribed to anything like this before, just generally preferring to get the free version and not comment. But I wanted to thank you. I just got done working on the airway of a 17 year old with COVID, and came to my office to breathe for a minute, and needed this exact reminder. Just enough manna for today. I am seen, I am noticed, and Jesus is here. Thank you, so much.
Thank you for this. The last few weeks have been super hard after a year and a half of super hard...and I definitely feel like the bleeding woman - desperately reaching for Jesus, but feeling like I can't quite touch him. And feeling like I have no other options left - we're trying all the things to help my daughter's severe OCD, we're doing all the tests to see what's wrong with my health, we're getting my son the therapy he needs and trying to make sure he gets enough attention, etc. Too many people intensely needing me and I just don't have enough to give any of them. It's so different than how I felt in February of 2020.
And the thing is...my struggles are nothing compared to those of our health care workers, or those who've lost jobs, or those who had to somehow juggle working full-time while helping kids with school. I've had it "easy" comparatively.
So thank you...for making me feel so much less alone, and for reminding me that it is enough...because Jesus is enough.
Thank you. This- I needed this/ to validate, that I am doing everything right and it is still not enough. I am waiting pretty serious c spine surgery of the c3/4- the pain is incredible- so far, I am in a waiting pattern- maybe 4-6 more weeks because I am in florida and there are no icu beds. In the meantime, I am trying so hard to stay isolated and quiet. I just want to cry. I do cry- a lot. I am feeling so much pressure from my pastor too!? He had a huge sermons this week on how the evil one just loves it that we watch him on FB and not in real life. Maybe he doesn’t mean to make me feel guilty but- he does! Maybe it is the Catholic in me!? (I am no longer Catholic). Anyway- I have been meaning to subscribe and this post did it! Thank you so much!
Thank you so much, Dr. Smith, for being a voice of reason, truth, grace, care, concern and love in the midst of such challenging times. Your post made me cry because it deeply ministered to my heart. This has been a painful 18 months for our family, and we have not even lost loved ones or jobs, and we are not healthcare workers. Thank you to all of you who have served tirelessly during this pandemic to do everything you can to help save lives while putting your own life on the line. This is the sacrificial love that exemplifies Jesus’ love to the world! I know you do not receive the respect and thanks that you deserve, much like our Savior. Thank you for reflecting Him and His heart to me and my family in a difficult time when we are struggling to see Jesus in our own church. We have prayed for you, healthcare workers, and I have wept many times for you over the past 18 months. Dr. Smith, your posts have offered me so much encouragement and strength during the pandemic. When my church family and friends have made me feel like I am crazy, lack faith, or am overreacting as my family takes precautions and follows CDC guidelines, your posts have reminded me that I am not alone and that I have a sister in Christ who empathizes, cares and understands. Thank you so much for your encouragement. I cannot even adequately express the lifeline of encouragement you have extended to me during these difficult times. We have health issues in my family. I have struggled with digestive issues and not feeling well for the past almost 7 years, and two of my children who are too young to be vaccinated have illness induced asthma. A simple cold for them can require breathing treatments, steroids and around the clock monitoring of their oxygen levels. My 9 year old was so sick with pneumonia and pleural effusion before covid that she was almost hospitalized. My husband was born with a narrow trachea due to a rare occurrence of an artery that wraps around it that restricts his oxygen levels to 60% of what the average person takes in, and this is when he is healthy. He sounds like Darth Vader when he exerts himself physically, and sometimes he gets lightheaded when he pushes himself on challenging hikes with our children. All this to say, our church has never required masks, shuns the CDC guidance, and makes us out to appear misguided and fearful for caring about such things. When our pastor and his family had a direct exposure to covid, they refused to quarantine and came to church the day before they came down with covid, but they would not get tested and said they had some sort of flu or maybe covid. When I encouraged people at church, via email, to please follow the CDC guidelines on quarantining after a direct exposure to contain the spread of the virus and protect others, the pastor called my husband in frustration and said it was not okay for me to share unsolicited medical advice. The uncaring and unloving reaction and response of our church community during the pandemic has been so hurtful and damaging to our family. We have lost our church family and so many people who we viewed as friends. I know they are still my brothers and sisters in Christ, but I cannot see the hands, the feet, and the heart of Christ in their response to all the loss and suffering that is going on in our world. I have been going to Christian counseling all summer long trying to process all of this, as there is such a disconnect for me between the reality of the pandemic and the response of our church, which is really no longer our church because we need to find a new church home. Thank you for reminding me that there are brothers and sisters in Christ who care, that Jesus cares and sees and He is enough, and that we are not alone or crazy for living the way we are and feeling so weary from it all. I am so thankful and grateful to you for sharing the science and the love of Christ with all of us! You are appreciated so much! THANK YOU!!!
Thank you for this reminder. It feels so hopeless and we are certainly tired. Thank you for speaking those words into our lives with God's perfect timing. I truly can not express how much it means to me at this time. It has been a very frustrating time and we are certainly weary.
I have tears in my eyes and I want to say thank you. Thank you for being a voice of reason in too many voices saying too many different things. Thank you for being a Dr., and a mom, and a pastor's wife who is willing to put your voice out there for us to hear. I am not a Dr. - this is the first thing I wills say to parent's who want to argue with me. I am not a scientist. I am Pastor's Wife and the director of our church preschool. I am also a mom of 2 pregnant daughters and 3 grandchildren 5 and under. My husband is tired and I am tired. We have responsibility, far beyond our own desires and agendas, to make decisions that serve the needs of many people. We live in a somewhat rural community and thank God.Every.Day that COVID has had very limited spread in our community. We have worked hard to make decisions that are thoughtful and informed and in the best interest of those we serve.
Yesterday I had preschool orientation. Everything I said to parents had been previously communicated in a variety of ways (email, power point, messaging, etc.). Any yet, I have a couple of parents going nuts because I am saying we will children inside FOR NOW. Last year we pivoted our entire program to an outdoor program. We are now outdoors 80% of the day - in all weather (we live in the Pacific Northwest - it's wet, but fairly moderate) We did not mask indoors. Delta is changing that FOR NOW. I will be sad if parents pull out of school because of masking, but I feel this is what we need to do FOR NOW - I have told them - if things change, we will change.
Thank you for speaking out with grace and being the hands a feet of Jesus. Thank You.
On my facebook feed, your post about this appeared between my unvaccinated mom's post that ended "you can have a degree and still be an idiot" and my sister's (also unvaccinated) "The government sells fear so they can become your savior. Christ says "fear not" because he is your savior. I choose Christ." Besides how hard ordinary life feels, I'm frustrated and worried over friends and family who have these attitudes. I'm now one of the "idiots" in their minds, which of course hurts from those I love.
Thanks for the reminder and encouragement.
Well, this made me cry. I literally said to my husband this morning - I am just so exhausted. I am so tired from thinking through every single decision and watching the rest of the world go on like a pandemic is not happening. Tired from explaining to my (vaccinated) 13 year old that he may be one of the only ones wearing a mask at school - but the right decision isn't always the popular decision. Tired from homeschooling my first grader to protect her (and I am NOT a teacher). Tired from worrying about my unvaccinated 5th grader who is in person because I can't give her what she needs academically at home. So.very.tired. So, thank you.
I’ve never subscribed to anything like this before, just generally preferring to get the free version and not comment. But I wanted to thank you. I just got done working on the airway of a 17 year old with COVID, and came to my office to breathe for a minute, and needed this exact reminder. Just enough manna for today. I am seen, I am noticed, and Jesus is here. Thank you, so much.
Thank you for this. The last few weeks have been super hard after a year and a half of super hard...and I definitely feel like the bleeding woman - desperately reaching for Jesus, but feeling like I can't quite touch him. And feeling like I have no other options left - we're trying all the things to help my daughter's severe OCD, we're doing all the tests to see what's wrong with my health, we're getting my son the therapy he needs and trying to make sure he gets enough attention, etc. Too many people intensely needing me and I just don't have enough to give any of them. It's so different than how I felt in February of 2020.
And the thing is...my struggles are nothing compared to those of our health care workers, or those who've lost jobs, or those who had to somehow juggle working full-time while helping kids with school. I've had it "easy" comparatively.
So thank you...for making me feel so much less alone, and for reminding me that it is enough...because Jesus is enough.
Thank you. This- I needed this/ to validate, that I am doing everything right and it is still not enough. I am waiting pretty serious c spine surgery of the c3/4- the pain is incredible- so far, I am in a waiting pattern- maybe 4-6 more weeks because I am in florida and there are no icu beds. In the meantime, I am trying so hard to stay isolated and quiet. I just want to cry. I do cry- a lot. I am feeling so much pressure from my pastor too!? He had a huge sermons this week on how the evil one just loves it that we watch him on FB and not in real life. Maybe he doesn’t mean to make me feel guilty but- he does! Maybe it is the Catholic in me!? (I am no longer Catholic). Anyway- I have been meaning to subscribe and this post did it! Thank you so much!
Thank you. Perseverance builds character, right? Thanks for your encouraging words. We're all still in this together.
Thank you so much, Dr. Smith, for being a voice of reason, truth, grace, care, concern and love in the midst of such challenging times. Your post made me cry because it deeply ministered to my heart. This has been a painful 18 months for our family, and we have not even lost loved ones or jobs, and we are not healthcare workers. Thank you to all of you who have served tirelessly during this pandemic to do everything you can to help save lives while putting your own life on the line. This is the sacrificial love that exemplifies Jesus’ love to the world! I know you do not receive the respect and thanks that you deserve, much like our Savior. Thank you for reflecting Him and His heart to me and my family in a difficult time when we are struggling to see Jesus in our own church. We have prayed for you, healthcare workers, and I have wept many times for you over the past 18 months. Dr. Smith, your posts have offered me so much encouragement and strength during the pandemic. When my church family and friends have made me feel like I am crazy, lack faith, or am overreacting as my family takes precautions and follows CDC guidelines, your posts have reminded me that I am not alone and that I have a sister in Christ who empathizes, cares and understands. Thank you so much for your encouragement. I cannot even adequately express the lifeline of encouragement you have extended to me during these difficult times. We have health issues in my family. I have struggled with digestive issues and not feeling well for the past almost 7 years, and two of my children who are too young to be vaccinated have illness induced asthma. A simple cold for them can require breathing treatments, steroids and around the clock monitoring of their oxygen levels. My 9 year old was so sick with pneumonia and pleural effusion before covid that she was almost hospitalized. My husband was born with a narrow trachea due to a rare occurrence of an artery that wraps around it that restricts his oxygen levels to 60% of what the average person takes in, and this is when he is healthy. He sounds like Darth Vader when he exerts himself physically, and sometimes he gets lightheaded when he pushes himself on challenging hikes with our children. All this to say, our church has never required masks, shuns the CDC guidance, and makes us out to appear misguided and fearful for caring about such things. When our pastor and his family had a direct exposure to covid, they refused to quarantine and came to church the day before they came down with covid, but they would not get tested and said they had some sort of flu or maybe covid. When I encouraged people at church, via email, to please follow the CDC guidelines on quarantining after a direct exposure to contain the spread of the virus and protect others, the pastor called my husband in frustration and said it was not okay for me to share unsolicited medical advice. The uncaring and unloving reaction and response of our church community during the pandemic has been so hurtful and damaging to our family. We have lost our church family and so many people who we viewed as friends. I know they are still my brothers and sisters in Christ, but I cannot see the hands, the feet, and the heart of Christ in their response to all the loss and suffering that is going on in our world. I have been going to Christian counseling all summer long trying to process all of this, as there is such a disconnect for me between the reality of the pandemic and the response of our church, which is really no longer our church because we need to find a new church home. Thank you for reminding me that there are brothers and sisters in Christ who care, that Jesus cares and sees and He is enough, and that we are not alone or crazy for living the way we are and feeling so weary from it all. I am so thankful and grateful to you for sharing the science and the love of Christ with all of us! You are appreciated so much! THANK YOU!!!
Thank you for this reminder. It feels so hopeless and we are certainly tired. Thank you for speaking those words into our lives with God's perfect timing. I truly can not express how much it means to me at this time. It has been a very frustrating time and we are certainly weary.
I have tears in my eyes and I want to say thank you. Thank you for being a voice of reason in too many voices saying too many different things. Thank you for being a Dr., and a mom, and a pastor's wife who is willing to put your voice out there for us to hear. I am not a Dr. - this is the first thing I wills say to parent's who want to argue with me. I am not a scientist. I am Pastor's Wife and the director of our church preschool. I am also a mom of 2 pregnant daughters and 3 grandchildren 5 and under. My husband is tired and I am tired. We have responsibility, far beyond our own desires and agendas, to make decisions that serve the needs of many people. We live in a somewhat rural community and thank God.Every.Day that COVID has had very limited spread in our community. We have worked hard to make decisions that are thoughtful and informed and in the best interest of those we serve.
Yesterday I had preschool orientation. Everything I said to parents had been previously communicated in a variety of ways (email, power point, messaging, etc.). Any yet, I have a couple of parents going nuts because I am saying we will children inside FOR NOW. Last year we pivoted our entire program to an outdoor program. We are now outdoors 80% of the day - in all weather (we live in the Pacific Northwest - it's wet, but fairly moderate) We did not mask indoors. Delta is changing that FOR NOW. I will be sad if parents pull out of school because of masking, but I feel this is what we need to do FOR NOW - I have told them - if things change, we will change.
Thank you for speaking out with grace and being the hands a feet of Jesus. Thank You.
Thank you, He sees each of us. Keep Pushing.