Today is day 14 of my social distancing “experience”- for lack of better words. Today was hard. I am not sure why or what triggered my heavy mood. Once I gave in to the bad mood, the lousy thoughts came.
I went for a walk. As I was walking and talking to God, I noticed the flowers and trees. They seemed so peaceful. Same as everyday swaying in the wind. Then I saw the birds, butterflies, squirrels, and insects, going about their business. Did they even know what was happening? If they did, they did not show it.
I remembered what Jesus said:
“Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear… Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away (toilet paper 😆) in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can anyone of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (Matthew 6:25—27)
He goes on to say, look at the flowers, aren’t they dressed most beautifully? Don’t worry about what you are going to wear or eat or drink… God will take care of you if you seek him out and love him; he will give you all the things of your heart.
We are in the in-between. When we look back at this time, what will we see?
Did we freak out and let anxiety and fear win? Or did we take captive our thoughts…
Did we hoard food and paper goods? Or did we give some of our supplies to those in need…
Did we lose all hope when we lost our job, business, life savings? Or did we remember all the times God came through for us in the past…
Did we drink bottle after bottle of wine? Or did we get our peace from God…
Did we pout and cry and get frustrated at home with our kids? Or did we show them joy (which does not depend on circumstance) …
Did we spread fear? Or did we uplift and encourage someone…
Did we bash our leaders? Or pray for them…
When our children look back, what will they see?
Those of us with little eyes watching, in front of us stands an enormous opportunity. The opportunity to affect how our children handle life’s trials. What are we teaching them?
“My brothers, you will have many kinds of troubles. But when these things happen, you should be very happy. You know that these things are testing your faith. And this will give you patience. Let your patience show itself perfectly in what you do” (James 1: 2-4)
Did your faith and patience grow?
What a fantastic opportunity to grow as people in ways we never knew we would.
When I got home my mind was flooded by the strength of the human spirit:
Here is what I witnessed these past 14 days:
• Restaurants adapting by delivery and pick up
• Companies meeting through zoom and other platforms
• Artists sharing their music and art on Facebook and other platforms
• Zoo’s and museums having virtual field trips
• Churches reaching out to their communities going live through the week and holding services online
• Teachers driving around neighborhoods to honk at their children they will not get to finish the grade with
• Mothers and fathers taking on the enormous feat of educating their children at home many of them while they work
• Health care providers and law enforcement officers bringing to life their pledge, to serve the people
• The creativity of people sharing uplifting, funny and informative information on social media
• Sheltered people in Italy, Brazil, and Peru singing to each other from balconies to lift their spirits
• Doctor’s from Cuba arriving in Italy to give aide
• Social media influencers giving money and gift cards to their followers in need
• People are sowing face masks for health care providers
• Tonight, I watched a band play a night of Hope concert from their individual homes (I mean what?? That would have never happened)
We are in the middle, but there will be an end.
We are apart now, but we will rise together.
See, our spirit is equipped for this battle. Our souls know the warnings of times of trouble. Only us with our mind and limited understanding get in our way.
Will this break some people? If you look at history, the answer is, unfortunately, yes. But history also shows us that the majority will re-build, adapt, and not lose hope.
So, I ask you when you look back, to the middle, the storm, the midst of it all. What will you remember?
Until next time,
Angie
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