A Good Word: When Contagious is a Good Thing

When Contagious is a Good Thing

We All Have the Power to Touch and Change Someone’s Life

by Dawn Marie Colaw

Some amazing stories of courage and compassion have surfaced during this COVID-coping season. In upfront venues and quiet corners of our community, many dedicated people have sacrificially stepped forward. Our family was personally blessed by some caring (I’ll call them) “contagious” heroes*, who touched us with hope, healing, and comfort.

“Contagious” comes from CON ‘together’ and TANGERE ‘to touch.’ In our daily conversations, emails, texts, written notes, facial expressions, handshakes, or even a wink, each of us touch others. When we do, there’s the potential to touch and change someone’s day, maybe even their life and future. That’s exactly what some “contagious” heroes from family, church, and community did for us.

Three major events occurred in our family. First, my mother suddenly died of a very rare and rapid brain disease. Then, during the week of funeral preparations, our grandbaby girl was born 640 miles away, under a strict hospital quarantine. While grieving the loss of life, we rejoiced over brand-new life, all at the same time. But what was to come, we could have never guessed…

Three months later, our very fit and healthy 39-year-old son had a fatal heart attack in the middle of the night! His wife raced him to the hospital just in time. While in the ER, he died two times. Both times they were able to bring him back to life! Praise God!

We were stunned! Many questions still linger in our minds. Understandably, the impact of each incident has had pivotal implications. It reaffirmed our faith, the power of prayer, the value of family and friends, the fragility of life, and the absolute certainty of a life beyond.

When dealing with unwelcomed challenges, upsetting disappointments, repeated blows of bad news, and other cruel realities of life, some tried-and-true “contagions” have helped anchor not only us, but also others who have had similar, or even worse, experiences.

Attitudes are Contagious.

Attitudes have a sizable impact on us and can quickly spread to others. Even amid stressful situations, a good attitude can prompt clearer thinking, cooperation, and a general sense of well-being.

Affirmations are Contagious.

Going a step beyond just thinking thankful thoughts to expressing them reframes everything. Affirming others lets them know they have blessed us. Wrapping words around our appreciation becomes a most treasured gift we can give and receive.

Associations are Contagious.

Who we associate with, who we listen to (in person, online, through media, literature, music, news, etc.) influences us, even changing our minds and maybe who we are! Relationships can be highly contagious. Proverbs 13:20 reminds us to carefully choose our friends. “Walk with the wise and be wise, walk with fools and suffer harm.” Having and being a wise friend is contagious.

We are Contagious.

What we think about most, impacts us most. Let’s catch and spread compliments, optimism, forgiveness, love, courage, humor, gratitude, ideas, confidence, enthusiasm, and even a contagious smile … with or without a mask and a fist bump! God Bless!

* A special thank you to our family’s contagious heroes: Dr Jason King, Dr Ron Hay, Dr Jeff Grishim, Comforting Hands Hospice, Apollo Services, Journey Home, Davis Family Funeral Home, Lorie, Ashley, Nina, Christine, Jenny, Miranda, Richard, Larry, congregation of First Wesleyan Church, Wednesday Women’s Bible Study Group & Friends, and Sojourner’s Sunday School Class.