Coronavirus: To Those on the Front Lines, We See You

A strong and beautiful friend of mine writes on Facebook, “Please pray for Emergency Responders. They have been working almost non-stop, for the past week.”

She concludes, “We miss you, Eric.”

My friend’s husband is a police officer. Unlike most of us today, who will hunker down in our safe, warm homes, protecting our children…

Eric will go to the front lines, coming face-to-face with the Coronavirus, risking exposing himself and his family for the sake of protecting our city.

The nurses I know get warm blankets, take temperatures, care for patients calm and collected…

Meeting the medical crisis of a child I know, fighting for her life today, an older gentleman from my church who was diagnosed recently and my husband’s doctor who also just found out, he has the virus.

My nurse friend’s feet ache. Their questions of why, when, and how this epidemic spreads is secondary to their fierce fight to care for patients, blood-shot eyes, weary legs and all.

Then, to come home in the evening, just to turn on the t.v. and hear…

Washington State’s Governor announced more closures, this time of bars and restaurants, along with all recreational activities in our area.

It’s been reported that people older than sixty-five are instructed not to leave their houses. My father just visited, but both my husband and I try to call our parents, and help any way we can.

Many of our counties medical staff have kids home from school for an entire six weeks. Some are single parents, trying to figure out how to pay rent, keep working and homeschool their children.

Nurses give and pour themselves out all day and then come home praying the virus won’t spread, weary hands just putting IV’s in and cleaning up liquids from their patients…

Now brush their children’s brow, serving still.

Medical staff are saints disguised as selfless people.

Professionals are tired and weary, yet serve daily almost continually, humbly and willingly, caring for families such as yours and mine.

My other friend, Gaby, is a Phlebotomist. She tells me stories of cars lined up at the clinic by our house, running, mask-wearing, to people’s cars, just to reach in towards sick patients…

She takes their blood before they drive away.

No one gets near these potential Coronavirus infected patients….but my friend does bravely. These are the people we need to be remembering and praying for.

While the world spreads and hides, Phlebotomist, like my friend, run head on into the front lines, to identify this disease first, so we can all stay clear from those who are infected.

These community servants are the real heroes of this Coronavirus epidemic.

Another friend, a fire-fighter, was on quarantine for two weeks, stuck in his house with his wife and three small children.

Him and eleven other brave souls were exposed at the very first nursing home in the states that began our national spread.

35 are now dead. There were 387 known cases from this nursing home. Yet, these strong servants fought brave, headed into danger to protect those that survived and work, risking their own danger.

I am not going to lie, when our plans or schedules get dropped right and left, when ballet and soccer and schools get canceled, when our schedules spin upside-down and we feel unnerved or unsettled…

It’s easy to get discouraged and question how we will ever survive…

But I want to encourage you in this time, to shift your minds away from yourself and think of the first responders, those who give their time and risk their lives to protect communities like ours.

And while we laugh at the Meme’s about toilet paper, spin and try to find curriculum for our son or daughter, these men and women come face-to-face with this virus, each and every day…

Won’t we pray for every nurse, Phlebotomist, fire-fighter, doctor, police officer and pharmacist as they work tirelessly to keep our communities safe?

My cousin in a Pharmacy Assistant. She sees the flood of people who are being forced by our governor to resist visiting public places is masses of over fifty people.

Yet, her line is often filled with coughing, runny nose patients, those trying to get their medicine in hopes to make them feel better.

Her hand reaches for money that’s been touched by sick people. Patients cough in front of her face, yet she serves them continually.

She is like a sister to me; her heart precious and selfless.

I used to be a Pharmacist Assitant Level B, a million ages ago, but today I can’t help her. If I could step in the front lines in place of her, I would.

Still, I pray for her. We all can pray for every person we know who gives their time, efforts and lives to stop this virus. 

Would we pray God grants a special hedge-of protection around each and every one?

And may those who give, find protection from The One who sees their every need.

Let’s also pray for strength.

I cannot image, as I sit in my pajamas, typing this over a warm cup of coffee, what it’s like to go and keep going, serve and keep serving, running my bones weary because I care about the community, more than I care about myself.

So, right now, will you bow your heads with me? Will you ask God to show you the face and names of people who are giving their time and lives, in face of the pandemic, COVID-19, in our communities?

We are not lone islands. We are communities built with trusted individuals who risk daily so we can have our basic needs.

Let’s serve these servants dinner, buy groceries for the elderly, care for someone’s children, and send those serving on the front-lines an encouraging text, reminding them just how much we appreciate all they do.

Thank you First Responders. Thank you doctors and nurses, and all those who sacrifice for the sake of our health, welfare and the good of our nation.

We love and appreciate you. Don’t forget…you are seen.

Today, we bow our hearts and pray for you.

We count YOU, the real heroes.

(Please share this post below to encourage every nurse, fire-fighter, doctor, police officer, pharmacy worker, and phlebotomist who serves so faithfully, on the front lines, for you and me.)