“But on that day, I will deal differently with the land of Goshen, where my people live; no swarms of flies will be there, so that you will know that I, the Lord, am in this land.” Exodus 8:22
It still breaks my heart to see Jude coming to the hospital ward door held up by a nurse, exhausted. It was a familiar site due to severe covid restrictions. The doors would open and for a few moments I could chat at a distance and leave some items. I cannot overstate how difficult this was and we leaned so hard on God’s grace. To be honest on various occasions with the nurses out of the way I would go in and hug her, it was priceless.
This was the picture intermittently for many weeks and months. One day you could visit, the next day you were given a letter suspending visiting until further notice. It was a roller coaster of emotions.
A customer had blessed Jude with an iPad and I was able to set it up along with her phone so we were able to communicate via video several times a day depending on how she was feeling. The toughest times came when she didn’t answer the phone especially during treatment and I would call the nurses station holding my breath. There were times of extreme sickness, high temperatures and very dark periods. What a joy it was for Jude to call me after coming out of her many valleys.
Covid was a great curse, and in one way I am thankful for the extra protection placed on those who were most vulnerable. Jude was in her own Goshen and it never visited her door although others were less fortunate.
Prayer
Father, you never promised this life would be easy but you said you would walk with us through the valley, your rod & staff would comfort us.
Thankyou that Jude was in Goshen protected from Covid during the epidemic, but equally you allowed her to carry the cross of Leukaemia, in which you carried the heavier end.
Like me, I pray especially for family & friends of a loved one who are in a dark place, restricted visitation, impossible situations that your grace would be so evident to them.
In Jesus Name-Amen
Jude Gray 