In Flew Enza!

I had a little bird,
It's name was Enza.
I opened the window,
And in-flu-enza.

A children's playground song in 1918.

Back in the 80's, I watched a movie on VHS titled "1918". Matthew Broderick was one of the cast. This was back before he was thrust to fame in Ferris Bueller's Day Off. 1918 was pretty much a sleeper. I'm not even sure if it was released in the theaters. It wasn't a blockbuster sort of movie by any means, but it was good, especially if you like period films. It gives the viewer a sense of what life was like for our ancestors in the year 1918. WWI, also known as "the Great War", was coming to a close. It was declared by a character in the movie to be "the war to end all wars".

More people were killed by the influenza pandemic of 1918-1919 than in all of WWI. It was known as "Spanish Flu" or "La Grippe", and infected one-fifth of the world's population. Unlike most flu strains, it was young people who were predominantly infected, the average age being 20-40 year olds. Death would sometimes happen within hours of the onslaught of symptoms. As you can imagine, the consequences to society were devastating!

Aunt Leona & Toby

This is my husband's Aunt Leona. She turned 90 this year. She's a pretty good looking broad for a 90 year old, wouldn't you say? She's been visiting for the past couple of weeks, taking turns staying at the homes of Mr.Studley's two sisters. We've had ample opportunities to spend time with her. She's amazing. Not only is her mind sharp and clear, but she loves the Lord, and loves to talk about Him. Her depth of knowledge and understanding of spiritual things, and God's Word, is astounding.

Aunt Leona, or as some of the relatives here in Texas pronounce it, Ain't Leona, was born in the year of 1918. My late mother-in-law was three years old, and her baby sister, Leona, was six months old, when their mother's life was snuffed out by the horrid influenza. Word was sent to the dead young mother's sister and mother that she had perished, and that the baby would be buried with her in the casket. They were told there was no milk to feed the baby who'd not eaten since midnight; and besides, they were certain it was only a matter of time before the babe fell ill as well. My understanding of this story is that this word was sent by the local midwife, who I assume had tended to the sick mother. I'm not sure where the father was in this picture. This little motherless baby, with no one to nurse it, and no one to tend to it (there were several other children in the home), was going to be buried alive!

Aunt Leona's aunt and grandmother immediately sent back word that they were not to bury the baby, but to hold off until they could arrive, that they'd take the baby home with them. Word was returned that it would be foolish to come there and expose themselves. They went anyway, and the baby was handed to them through a window, to keep them from having to enter the house. The baby had already been dressed in burial clothes.

It's hard in our modern day thinking to imagine such a horrific thought as buring a baby alive (though thousands are killed each day in the wombs), but we haven't a clue what life must have been like in that time period, and in those circumstances. People were dying right and left. Doctors and nurses were dying along with the patients. Entire families were wiped out from the influenza. It's such a testimony of the power of God that Leona's life was spared. The aunt and grandmother raised her on their farm in Kentucky. She shared some wonderful memories with us of her childhood there.

I'm not sure at what age, but Aunt Leona was later introduced to Jesus as her Savior by her older sister, Mr.S' mom. She shared with Mr.S and I last night how she and her sister (his mom) loved to sit and talk about the Lord together. She remembers one night while visiting her sister when they were adults, that they spent the entire night lying in bed, sharing with each other the goodness of God.

My late mother-in-law died a few years ago, at the age of 90. Numerous people approached us at the family visitation night in the funeral home and told us how it was Miz T---that first introduced them to the Lord. I can only hope to leave behind the legacy such as these two sisters have, one now with Jesus, and one still living here for Him; to be known as someone who was passionate in my love for Christ, and always bold to share it with others.

*I gathered my smattering of facts about the influenza pandemic of 1918 at this site.
If you'd like to learn more, click on the link. I only scratched the surface of the shared facts.

For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.

~Jeremiah 29:11 Amplified Bible