Ep. 14: “Tips From a Survivor: How We Can Move Beyond COVID-19”
With Guest Evelyn Sherwood
Last October, Evelyn discovered that she had been exposed to someone with a positive COVID test. She and her husband immediately began to formulate a plan of action should things spiral down quickly. And they did. Evelyn shares her journey and what she discovered along the way.
Watch the Interview Here
Listen to the Audio File Here
Show Notes
Meet my friend, Evelyn, who joins me from Kokomo, Indiana. She and her husband, Steve, raised 2 children and now enjoy 8 grandchildren. Evelyn and her husband are senior pastors in the church where they have ministered for 25 years—he as pastor and she in various ministries and as a speaker and retreat host.
Since her school days, Evelyn has focused on those who were struggling—early on she knew her calling was to serve God in ministry. She presents an open and welcoming heart because the weary have always sought her out in unexpected places and times, even the produce section of the supermarket.
A Message of hope to the weary hearted
Three years ago Evelyn thought about broadening her ministry and following through on her long desire to write. God said, “Go.”
“Hope for the Journey,” her website at evelynsherwood.com, was born. Evelyn started blogging and sending out weekly devotions. She also took bold steps to turn her stories of hope into her first book. Working with Chad R. Allen, our mutual friend and book coach, she has completed her book proposal. Congratulations, Evelyn, on this huge step!
Weariness at Home
Even before the pandemic, Evelyn had worries at home. In the fall of 2019 her husband became seriously ill with a mold infection in his lungs. He was still recovering when the pandemic started in early 2020.
“He cannot get covid!”
In spite of their precautions, they both became very ill with Covid-19 in November of 2020. Under doctor’s care, they tried to manage at home but after one week Steve was clearly too sick to be at home. Evelyn drove him, alone to avoid infecting anyone else, dropped him at the emergency department, and stood helpless watching him walk solo down the long corridor to enter.
“Will I see him again?”
Next came a never-to-be-forgotten pivotal moment for Evelyn. Alone in the car, she pulled into the drive after dropping Steve at the hospital. She leaned over the steering wheel, sick and exhausted, as the song “Even If” by Mercy Me played on the radio.
The second verse says:
It's easy to sing
When there's nothing to bring me down
But what will I say
When I'm held to the flame
Like I am right now
I know You're able and I know You can
Save through the fire with Your mighty hand
But even if You don't
My hope is You alone
The last few lines say:
I know the sorrow, I know the hurt
Would all go away if You'd just say the word
But even if You don't
My hope is You alone
It is well with my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul.
“Is he going to make it?”
Even though the worst was yet to come, this was the crisis moment for Evelyn. The tears flowed, her heart was bursting, and she cried out, “Is he going to make it?”
Then I heard God speak. “If I don’t save him, will you still love me?”
Through the exhaustion, pain, and tears she knew the answer. She lifted her hands in the air and said aloud, “I will still love you God. I will trust you. Even if it doesn’t turn out the way I want, you are still good and you are still God.”
““I will still love you God. I will trust you. Even if it doesn’t turn out
the way I want, you are still good and you are still God.””
Several days later Evelyn ended up in the same hospital where Steve was now in the ICU. They both received heavy-duty treatment, had complications, but slowly improved enough to be discharged home 10 days after the first long-corridor walk.
Evelyn, did your faith help you heal?
Evelyn explained that when her brain was too exhausted to think, she could not pray or process her problems in the usual way. But she could just say “Help, God” and feel the comfort of His presence. Her church community also supported both her and Steve with prayer, frequent calls and texts of love or scripture verse, and with food. In spite of the physical isolation, they did not go through this alone. Recalling her pivotal moment of surrender to God while sitting in the car continued to bring her peace—and gratitude.
In Serenity and Health, I often talk of mind, body, spirit interactions and how things that calm our mind or support our spirt contribute to healing. I suspect this is what happened with Evelyn.
Evelyn and her husband (Image from EvelynSherwood.com)
Three Lessons Evelyn Learned from Covid
We all will face seasons of suffering. I realized that I shouldn’t try and rush through the suffering—to fight it. I need to sit with it no matter how uncomfortable. I understand better now that this is precious time when God is helping us grow faith and courage as he transforms our hearts.
When I start to feel negative about continued health issues, like my blood clots, major hair loss, or low energy, I hear God speaking to me: “Don’t get stuck begrudging where you are not. Instead, offer gratitude for where you’ve come from and where your’e heading. Every step forward is a gift, no matter how small.
I learned the importance of rest and came to realize what a treadmill I had been on with working full time, writing, writing classes, and my ministry.
““I learned the importance of a pause for my soul, my mind, and my body.””
Evelyn’s final thought was to encourage all of us to reflect on this season of the COVID-19 pandemic and ask ourselves what we learned that we can carry through to the next season to help us be more strong, kind, grateful, and loving.
““Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this; The faithful love of the Lord never ends!” ”
Check out what Evelyn has to offer and follow her on social media!
Website evelynsherwood.com
Sign up for Less Stress in 2021! A Free Serenity and Health Program!
As we navigate the COVID-19 crisis and the equally pressing issues in our country and the world, I feel the time is right to once again offer this free email-based “Less Stress” program.
I will share with you my best suggestions for helping you to feel better, act better, and walk closer with the Lord during this challenging season. I have also updated the program to include video introductions and a revised printer-friendly journal.
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About Evelyn Sherwood
Evelyn Sherwood is a trusted soul-care guide, speaker, and blogger who has served in pastoral ministry for thirty-five years. Throughout her years of ministry she has impacted thousands of lives by speaking at ministry events and retreats and has hosted events with such speakers as Jefferson Bethke and Megan Marshman. Sherwood’s popular Stories of Hope events draw a diverse audience of hundreds from her region, and they continue to grow in popularity. Sherwood serves an active and growing audience through her blog, evelynsherwood.com, encouraging her readers through hard times by helping them recall God’s work in their past. On a summer evening you might spot Evelyn and her husband, Steve, driving through Indiana farmlands in a canary yellow ’47 Ford pickup or enjoying an outdoor movie night with their eight grandkids.
About Donna
Dr. Donna Chacko promotes health of body, mind, and spirit through her website (serenityandhealth.com), her blog, and programs at her church. She is the author of Pilgrimage: A Doctor’s Healing Journey (Luminare Press, 2021).
Donna previously practiced medicine for forty years, first as a radiation oncologist and later, after re-training, as a family medicine doctor. What she learned taking care of immigrants and the homeless in Washington, D.C., continues to influence her programs. A central theme is that health of body, mind, and spirit is interrelated and connected to God, all as a package deal. Donna is a wife, mother, and grandmother and lives in University Park, Maryland.
Questions? Reach out to Donna Chacko.
Do you use these excuses to avoid having to take action?