Whew!

​Last Thursday, I spent 8 hours with someone who tested positive for THE virus on Friday morning, after which I spent the past 4 days in quarantine.  Thankfully, I had a blank calendar.  This morning I, along with three friends, went to the portico of the local hospital to take a rapid antigen test.  I was one of the three who tested negative.  The fourth had experienced some very mild symptoms a couple days ago tested positive and will need to self-isolate for a few days.   
 
Now I have a clean bill of health, I can start baking Christmas cookies for the neighborhood; I can answer the door without a KN-95 mask; I can go to Detwiler’s Farm Market for groceries; and I can……  Fill in the blank with your favorite, normal activity. 
 
This Christmas I am thankful for all the people in the healthcare industry who encounter infectious diseases daily.  I am thankful for the scientist who develop rapid tests to relieve our anxiety.  I am thankful many people who test positive for COVID-19 have minimal symptoms and those who fall seriously ill can receive medical treatment.  I am thankful the vaccine is being distributed. I am thankful, although my local grocery store had no powdered sugar for Christmas cookie frosting, the store down the street sold it in 4-pound bags!
 
And, I am thankful our God so loved the world, He sent his only Son, Jesus the Christ, whose birth we celebrate at Christmas, so everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.
 
What a Christmas gift! Merry Christmas all!