By Last night, the sky was crisp and clear with a cool breeze. The stars were bright. I thanked God for the beauty of the world in the midst of the current chaos in our world. The diagnosis of coronavirus is spreading across the United States leading to quarantines, isolation, closing of schools and canceling events.
What a wonderful time to stop and celebrate the beauty in the world that God created and gave to each of us.
The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship.
Psalm 19:1
Each day, enjoy something in this quieter world for now. Grow in some way and learn something new. Play a game with your family. Put together a puzzle. Plant flowers in your gardens. Talk with your family and friends on the phone or FaceTime. Send cards to each other. Thank God for relationships, communication, and nature.
This time has been given to us to cherish, as each day is given to us.
When my daughter was gravely ill with Lyme disease, we were together for seven months. Life changed for us immediately the night that she lost all of her memory. The days and months passed slowly as we sought a diagnosis and treatment plans for my daughter. Many times during the seven months were scary because of the uncertainty of the cause of her memory loss and extreme uncertainty of the treatment. I kept my faith as we lived through each and everyday.
What do you do when you are in a different situation? When your life changes so drastically? Your life at home changes. Your job and your paycheck change. How will you spend your time?
Each day during my daughter’s illness, no matter what appointments or treatment we needed to get to, I focused on doing something fun. Something to brighten the day, as a blessing. If we spent a half an hour baking, or painting, or crafting, there was peace. Unfortunately, due to my daughter’s discomfort a half an hour was often the amount of time we could actually have fun.
Another benefit to these times when we are forced to slow down is the impact the different pace has on your overall health. We have become a society of being fast paced and “busy”. We actually pride ourselves on being “busy”. This time of being at home for the coronavirus, as well as the time I was home during my daughter’s illness, are slower. Take time to enjoy the slower pace. Take time to think and dream. I was more rested during those 7 months because the everyday schedule of my life was taken away. More naps. More time to reflect. More time to pray.
During this first week of the coronavirus quarantines and isolation, let each of us take this special time to find peace among the chaos. Praise God for the beauty of springtime. Stargaze. Breath the fresh air. Share with your friends fun things that you are doing. Use the phone to call each other. Now is the time to relax and refresh which will lead to being healthier.
As always, you know how to put a positive spin on a difficult situation and offer suggestions to redeem it! Thanks for encouraging us to view these seasons as opportunities rather than merely setbacks. I feel fortunate that I’ve gotten so “good” at being home that I hope I can give others encouragement to look at it more positively also.
Thank you Linda for reminding us to take this time to slow down and cherish the beautiful. I’m so thankful you and your daughter found healing. God bless!