Reece Gardner: Covid-19 - Hopefully, the tide is turning

You have probably heard the expression, "Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater," or, "Don't overdo the cure."  While no one can deny that our country, and indeed the world, is faced with an incredibly serious pandemic, it is clear that President Trump and his team of experts from both the private and public arenas are doing everything possible to stem the tide of sickness. 

We are now nearing the end of the 15-day shutdown of society, which was enacted to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, and there are signs that the disease will not be as deadly as originally thought. The vast majority of patients show mild to no symptoms. Meanwhile, our economy is suffering as businesses are forced to close, forcing millions of Americans to stay home.   

But hopefully, the tide is turning. In a letter to all state governors last week, President Trump announced that his Administration would be releasing new guidelines for state and local officials that will allow them to be more flexible in response to the coronavirus and to seek a balance between public health &  economic stability. We are not going to eliminate or cure all the illnesses of this world, but we can reach out to those who are suffering and perhaps ease their pain. 

We see signs of suffering all around us, such as seeing a little boy on television, perhaps no more than two years of age, sitting on the curb of a city recently devastated by a storm. A man walked by and the little boy lifted up his arms in hopeful anticipation of being rescued. But the man walked on by, leaving the boy with the most intense look on his face of fear, sadness, and helplessness. But we can take comfort in knowing that the day is coming when all the pain and suffering will end, in The Sweet By and By. A lot of it is about perspective. I was on the telephone last Monday night with my Precious Daughter Jessica when on my television screen came Tennessee Ernie Ford singing a hymn on his network show. 

I moved my telephone close to the screen so that Jessica could clearly hear Tennessee Ernie sing: "When the storms of life are raging, stand by me. When the storms of life are raging, stand by me. When the world is tossing me, like a ship out on the sea, Thou who calmest sand and water, Stand by Me. When I'm growing old and feeble, stand by me. When I'm growing old and feeble, stand by me. When my life becomes a burden, take me safely over Jordan, Oh My Lily of the Valley, STAND BY ME." Amen & Amen!

Now for a little humor: A girl went to a palmist to have her hand read. "I see that you are in love with a tall man with a front tooth missing," the palmist said to her. 

"That's right," was the reply. 

"I also see that he has asked you to marry him and his name is Bill Jones," the psalmist said. 

"That's marvelous," said the girl. 

"How can you tell all that from the lines in my hand?" 

"It's not the lines I'm reading," the psalmist said, "It's the ring you are wearing. I gave it back to Bill two weeks ago."