Wade actually had the same idea on a column this week. I had intended on using the we’re not in the same boat and expand upon it but I’ll go in a different direction. Be sure and read his column, however. It expresses how I feel eloquently.

It was my prayer, we would become, kinder, gentler from all of this. I have seen some of that, but have also seen a lot of venomous words used to attack people who don’t have the same opinion. It should not be this way. We may not all be in the same boat but we should be on the same page. 

My friend list has gotten smaller and I’m okay with that as I realized a while back, God adds and removes people as needed.  I’m certainly not going to question Him, though at times some of those people removed have stung quite a bit. I just remind myself, it’s for my good.

One thing for sure is, you definitely find out who people really are during times of crisis. You also discover people who are like minded and think on the same wave length with you which gives you hope that you are not losing your mind!

Seriously, our faith is being tested and we can’t say we totally trust God if we are living in fear. I refuse to and have had peace during this whole ordeal. Can’t say that people haven’t frustrated me with the fear mongering and the focusing on the negative instead of the positive.

Sadly, I’ve realized how easy it is to convince people of things and make them fearful. But I’ve also found people of great faith who stand with me. We’re all different and we need to quit attacking each other. We also need to start asking questions and quit blindly following people or the government because you think they know best. I also do not want to hear God gives us wisdom and modern medicine because you believe in the lockdown. Yes, He does but He also gives us discernment and common sense in situations if you trust Him.

I choose faith. In my Bible study this week, we talked about fear. God gave me this and I’d like to share it with you. It speaks to me and I believe He wants all of us to flex our faith muscles. 

Faith is not denial. Faith is facing the problem, but focusing on God. The most important thing you can do right now is choose to have faith over fear.  Faith doesn’t mean you ignore wisdom; it’s saying you  have faith in God over everything, no matter what’s going on in the world and that you choose God’s word and  the discernment He gives you over the world. God did not deliver Shadrack, Meshack and Abenego from the fire, He delivered them in the fire! Let that sink in.

I ran across the following a couple of times as well. Perhaps you saw it. I think it originally was attributed to Kevin Sorbo, whom you might recognize as playing Hercules. He quit Hollywood and began making Christian movies. It also expresses how I feel about the state of affairs we are currently in right now. I have actually made a couple of these statements myself.

“When the State tells you it’s safe to go to Home Depot to buy a sponge but dangerous to go and buy a flower and when the State shuts down millions of private businesses but doesn’t lay off a single government employee, it’s not about your health.

When the State prevents you from buying cucumber seeds because it’s dangerous, but allows in person lottery ticket sales and When the State tells you it’s dangerous to go golf or fish alone but they can get make up and hair done for five TV appearances, it’s not about your health.

When the state puts you IN jail for walking in a park with your child because it’s too dangerous but let’s criminals OUT of jail for their health and when the state tells you it’s dangerous to get treated by a doctor yet says a liquor stores essential it’s not about your health!

When the State lets you go to the grocery store or hardware store but is demanding mail-in voting, ITS NOT ABOUT YOUR HEALTH.

WAKE UP PEOPLE — If you think this is all about your health you’re mistaken! Please open your eyes! Stop being lead like blind sheep.”

Have you asked yourself why none of the journalists, nor the government leaders are wearing masks or practicing social distancing?

If some government officials are really concerned about your health, why are they holding up funding while they eat expensive ice cream on national TV? Why is a multi-billionaire like Nancy Pelosi begging for people to send her $10 because they are trying to take her seat away from her? She doesn’t need the money folks. It’s all about control and unfortunately some people will send her money. 

Why haven’t our congressmen and women given up their salaries like our President if they are so concerned about the American people? I’ll tell you why because most of them don’t care one iota about America or its citizens. It’s all about them and how much more they can get and how they can control the whole world.

Our forefathers knew about pandemics yet they did not make that one of the ways a government could lock down the whole country. In fact, that thought never crossed their minds. They would not have done it. And no people who want the economy opened up are not just about the money. You see the economy is us. Our lives depend on it.

Try to open your mind and expand your thinking and quit letting your emotions rule over your brain. 

VICTORIA SIMMONS Is a columnist, author, motivational speaker, minister and publisher of The Georgia Post/Byron Buzz. Contact her at: vsimmons54@gmail.com