'My son Harry, who’s eight, has sensory difficulties. He spots things that you and I would never see. His world is very tiring. When other children are running and playing, he seeks a quiet corner.

'For him, in lockdown, being with his baby brother, being in the garden, being able to immerse himself in things has been fabulous. It’s been lovely.

'But it’s not been without its challenges. I have a serious respiratory condition and have been shielding. When I was pregnant with our second son, Eben, last year, I got pneumonia. My respiratory system started to shut down, so did my immune system. It’s probably similar to what people have gone through with Covid. I had to have help breathing, and for three months I couldn’t shop, couldn’t go out. I had to sleep downstairs because I could barely walk.

'The verse that has meant a lot to me in all of this, is Isaiah 61.3, ‘You have given me a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.’ My life has had a lot of challenges, but all the way along, God has given us the opportunity to see his goodness, his creativity in our lives.

'That verse has stayed with me during lockdown. In the morning, you get dressed and prepare for the day. This is spiritual preparation for the day. With God, you can praise and be blessed, and speak his goodness in everything. This verse has been amazing, actually.

'I haven’t been able to be in control of anything during lockdown, and I like to be in control. I like things neat and organised. But this verse tells me that I need to embrace the messiness of life. Harry and my husband, Richard, who’s a teacher, have gone back to school now. It’s a different phase until the summer holidays, when we can do it all again.'

Do you have a story to share? Email mybible@biblesociety.org.uk

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