Happy Easter. I’ve recently been involved in several calls from people who wanted to discuss what they wanted out of life. They had friends or family members who were sick with Coronavirus. They wanted to know why this was happening to our world, their family, and friends.

Easter is time of deep reflection for me. At a very young age, my mother taught me about meditation and prayer. Every Good Friday we would spend several hours in the church alone. It seemed like a very long time to me at the time.

For my mother, it was a reminder of what might have been.  A singing voice lost to polio, a broken engagement, and a sibling who took his own life. All things that would break the most religious of people. Winston Churchill once said, “Courage is the first of the human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees all others.“ My mother was courageous, though I didn’t know it at the time.

This COVID-19 epidemic reminds me of the polio epidemic of the mid-twentieth century. Almost every person had or knew someone who had polio. This disease had a different impact on almost everyone who got the disease. It felt personal to those involved. Many believed it was a curse from God.

People felt abandoned as they struggled to make sense of what was happening to the people in their lives. Lost, and worried could they be next.

When working in hospice and nursing homes, I heard many firsthand stories about this insidious disease, polio. People would hold onto you tightly when they shared a story of a loved one that had experienced polio. The toughest men or women would break down and weep. You could see the fear still present in their eyes. We’ve defeated polio. Together, we will defeat COVID-19.   

God says “Fear not” in the Bible over 365 times. One for every day of the year. Want to try a powerful affirmation? Try this; “I will not fear (then fill in the blank).” Keep using it and you will find peace. It may take time, but it does work. This Easter we continue to fear, if not for ourselves then for our loved ones and people in our communities. It’s natural. But you don’t have to live in fear.

This is not to make light of the current situation. It’s serious. It not going to just go away and it seems that the virus doesn’t care who you are or where you’re from. It doesn’t discriminate against any group, just like death! It will take all of us to eliminate Coronavirus. And it will happen.      

It’s Easter weekend around the world. A time of celebration. For the first time in many years we are being told not to attend services. Not to get together with family and friends. As always, we will find ways to celebrate Easter. We just need to be more creative in how we accomplish it!

So many health care workers and first responders are working to help keep us safe. People who work in stores and other critical jobs are still making sure we have food and other essentials. These individuals chance their lives for us every day. I must admit that at times I don’t appreciate what they do.

This event is going to transform our lives forever. When people find themselves in these events many go looking for God. They wonder where He is. How could He abandon us at this time of need?

Here’s a question I ask people when they are feeling fearful or disconnected or unloved. What do you want for your life? How do you keep moving in times of tragedy? He’s always here. He would never leave you.

Would you like to see or feel  Him in your life ? Look in the mirror. Look for a child or an older person, see that twinkle in their eyes. God’s always here. You should spend this moment understanding you’re never truly alone.

Next year, we will all get together. We will all be more thankful for what we have. We will take a moment to remember those people we’ve lost. Most importantly, we know we can never truly lose the ones we love.  That’s a promise that He’s made to us forever.

Want a more uplifting Easter holiday message you might enjoy How Jesus Christ Changed the World In Two Words!

Happy Easter!