From: Ira Kapitonova in Kyiv (Day 1247)
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
Psalm 46:1-3
I recently read about the effects prolonged stress has on people’s health. It is our fourth year in the full-scale war (and 12th year since russia’s initial aggression), and no person is conditioned to live under such stress for so long.
Doctors say there’s a significant increase in strokes among people under the age of 40 with no underlying conditions. That’s the result of sleepless nights and constant anxiety.
Hairdressers say they’re noticing more and more young people (even teenagers) with gray hair. There is not necessarily a cause-and-effect connection there, but I think about the pain of loss and separation that does not have an age limit.
That’s why I am so aware of the blessing of having relatively safe places and being away from the air raids and explosions. The blessing of relaxed, uninterrupted sleep. The blessing of putting your phone away because you don’t need to monitor the threats. The blessing of breathing freely and enjoying moments of life, the way we used to. Our time in the Carpathians showed me how much I needed it, and I am grateful that our defenders make sure there are a lot of relatively safe places even in wartime Ukraine.
Voice of Ukraine 