My throat felt a little sore, I began having a small, nagging cough…next day, the air outside smelled funny. Uh-oh. Is this?
YEP.
Why do I call it “The Gift of Covid-19”? I’m being facetious, because it’s viral, but I’m serious at the same time, because it taught me some things. Here’s my personal Covid-19 experience in a big 20 nutshell…
1. Shocked!! Because, I honestly thought I had it in January. I guess that was Type A flu that was going around at the time. Covid is just “different”, as so many say. It’s a different kind of sickness/feeling.
2. I’ve been exposed multiple times throughout the year; even to Keith when he had it in June. But this time, I was exposed to multiple people in the same room, at the same time. None of which knew they had covid at that moment. We can look back now and see there were clues.
3. Covid, for me, was way mild compared to the flu.
4. The fatigue and zero energy spurts are no joke! I hate having to sit or lay down. I’ve always thought sleep was a waste of time!
5. I missed the taste and smell of food! I need to enjoy my meals.
6. My very first symptoms were a cough, and then the outside air smelled strange.
7. Itchy covid hives. Yep! I got the weird, rare covid hives.
8. Spark, vitamins, and supplements are the best thing in the world to help get through the day! I thanked God everyday for those! Extra Vitamin D/D3 and Zinc. (Zinc helps you get your taste back faster, so I’ve heard. I did see pretty immediate improvement when I upped my Zinc and D3.)
9. I found that JOY truly is a strength-giver! I woke everyday CHOOSING JOY. The majority of my quarantine, because I had covid, was the week of Christmas. Everyone knows how I LOVE Christmas season! Everything about it. Family gatherings, The Lift activities, the lights, the meals, GIVING GIFTS and watching ppl open them!!! But, as much as I love Christmas season, I love the Lord first and foremost. I choose Him everyday, all that He is. And joy is part of His character.
10. His joy and strength helped me thrive through everyday. Even though Keith had to go to work, Isabella had an even milder case than me, and all while we’re training a new puppy – I made it! I even managed to knock out housework, business, ministry work from home, and pray with/counsel/mentor/encourage about 35 other people, from TN, NC, AL, and CO who were contacting me for prayer because they also had covid. *Side note, Keith says I’d probably have gotten better faster had I rested more 🙄.
11. I spiked symptoms five days after the big exposure.
12. I felt fully recovered on the 6th day of the sickness. The only lingering effect has been smell. It’s still a bit off. Little spurts of tiredness occur, but nothing major.
13. Keith has had no symptoms 🙌🏽. Of course, I slept in one of our upstairs guest rooms, and we kept distance as best we could, considering. I disinfected the house daily, as well.
14. We missed Christmas gathering with our families 😞. We were able to reschedule my side of the family’s Christmas – but, we are a much smaller family. We missed the gathering and meal with Keith’s side of the family – but, we couldn’t have asked them to reschedule as there are A LOT of family members on that side. We will get to spend a day with my MIL soon, and that will be nice.
15. I asked the Lord for a white Christmas this year, and He gave it to me. I really am His favorite 😉. Just kidding – calm down. No, really, we all are!
16. I cried when I smelled my sparkling grape juice as we partook of communion. I cried even more when I could actually taste, what I always considered the “tasteless” communion wafer 😂!
17. Psalm 91:15 says the Lord will BE WITH US in time of trouble. He certainly is.
18. I cherish our parents more than ever now.
19. I savor the taste and smell of food more than ever now.
20. This has made me love and appreciate the Christmas season more than ever! I will never believe I’ve gone too far over the top to celebrate this season, again!!
