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By R.L. Witter By R.L. Witter
y mother (Miss America) used to say, y mother (Miss America) usedhave to say, “If you stay ready, you won’t to “If you stay ready, you won’t have to get ready.” We never scurryfunged get rush ready.” Weabout nevercleaning scurryfunged (to about when (to rush about about before cleaning when company is coming) answercompany is coming) before answering the door to greet an unexpected the was door to clean. greet an guest, because ouring house kept Weunexpected rarely were guest, our was keptitem clean. rarely were sent tobecause the store forhouse a last-minute to We complete dinsent because to the store a last-minute item complete dinner, Missfor America planned ourtomeals and kept ner, because Miss America planned our mealsBeing and kept both the pantry and refrigerator well-stocked. my both the pantry andI refrigerator well-stocked. Being the my mother’s daughter, aim to conduct my household mother’s I aim to conduct my household the same way. daughter, So you can imagine my surprise when on our same way. can imagine my no surprise on our weekly tripSo toyou Costco, there were paperwhen products or weekly trip totoCostco, there were noThat paper products or disinfectants be found—NONE. entire area of disinfectants to be found—NONE. That entire area of the store was empty. theWhile store was empty. other shoppers looked panicked, That WonWhile other shoppers Wonderful Husband and I justlooked sort ofpanicked, shrugged That our shoulderfuland Husband sort of huge shrugged shoulders moved and on Itojust find that box our of Raisin ders and moved on to find that huge of box Raisin Bran that lasts us two months and some theofvacuum Branbags thatwe lasts months and purchases some of the vacuum seal useustotwo keep our bulk fresh and seal bags we use to keep our bulk purchases fresh and freezer burn-free. freezer Now burn-free. is probably a good time to tell you I am a fullNowgermophobe. is probably aI DO good time to tell you(never I am ahave, fullblown NOT shake hands blownwill), germophobe. I DO NOTor shake hands (never never no sharing of food beverages. I wipe have, door never will), no sharing of food or beverages. I wipe door
Now is probably a good time to tell Now is probably a good time to tell you I am a full-blown germophobe. I you I am a full-blown germophobe. I DO NOT shake hands (never have, nevDO NOT shake hands (never have, never will), no sharing of food or beverager will), no sharing of food or beverages. I wipe door knobs and light switches. I wipe door knobs and light switches with disinfecting wipes, sanitize my es with disinfecting wipes, sanitize my dishes, rarely eat in a restaurant, and dishes, rarely eat in a restaurant, and my phone has never been used in a my phone has never been used in a bathroom (but I still sanitize it daily). bathroom (but I still sanitize it daily). www.thepositivecommunity.com
knobs and light switches with disinfecting wipes, saniknobs light switches disinfecting sanitize my and dishes, rarely eat inwith a restaurant, andwipes, my phone tize never my dishes, in a restaurant, phone has been rarely used ineat a bathroom (but Iand still my sanitize it has never been used a bathroom (but I still sanitizeto it daily). Because of myinadmittedly ridiculous aversion daily). we Because my admittedly to germs, have aofsupply of Cloroxridiculous wipes and aversion hand sanigerms, have wipes andpackages hand sanitizer onwe hand at aallsupply times,of in Clorox addition to bulk of tizer on handnapkins, at all times, addition to We bulkwere packages of toilet paper, and in facial tissues. hoping toilet paper, were hoping to top-off ournapkins, supply asand we facial usuallytissues. do, butWe not being able to do top-off ournot supply as we usually do, but for notus. being able to so did constitute an emergency to Something do so did not an emergency for us. carries myconstitute Gram frequently said that often my Gram frequently said can that worry often carries meSomething through difficult situations is: “You in earme through difficult situations “You worry in earnest or you can pray in earnest,is:but youcan can’t do both.” nest or you can in earnest, but youthis can’t both.” As someone whopray struggles with anxiety, hasdo become someone anxiety, thisand hasthe become aAsmantra forwho me.struggles With thewith germophobia cona mantra me. With the Coronavirus, germophobiayou andmight the constant newsfor coverage of the be stanttonews coverage of theand Coronavirus, you might be able imagine the anxiety fear I am currently fightable Did to imagine the my anxiety and fear am currentlyhealth fighting. I mention husband has I“underlying ing. Did I mention husband has “underlying health issues” and a chronicmy illness? Yeah. issues” and a chronic illness? But here’s the thing. WorryYeah. doesn’t change anything; But steals here’sjoy theand thing. Worry doesn’t change anything; it only sanity. So as I prepare for the (blissit only steals joy sanity. So as I prepare for the I(blissful) possibility ofand being quarantined in our house, plan ful) of reading. being quarantined ourfirst house, I plan to dopossibility some Bible And one ofinthe scriptures do some Bible reading. And one of4:5-7, the first scriptures Itoknow will comfort me is Philippians “The Lord is I know me is Philippians 4:5-7, “The is at hand;will do comfort not be anxious about anything, but inLord everyat hand; not be anxious about anything, but in everything by do prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let thingrequests by prayer withAnd thanksgiving your be and madesupplication known to God. the peace let of your requests be madeallknown to God. And peace of God, which surpasses understanding, willthe guard your God, which surpasses hearts and your mindsall in understanding, Christ Jesus.” will guard your hearts and your mindstimes, in Christ In these stressful theJesus.” ONLY hand I’ll be In these the(and ONLY hand be holding is thestressful hand of times, the Lord maybe ThatI’ll Wonholding is the hand of the Lord (and maybe That Wonderful Husband). derful Husband).
March 2020 The Positive Community
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