Impatient
I can admit it. I’m over it. I’m ready for this to be over. I don’t want to wear a mask everywhere. I was a germaphobe before and now it's gotten worse. I want my vacation back. I want to travel. I want my life back the way it was before Covid-19. I want my kids to go to school in the fall. I don’t want to be stuck in the house forever. We've all said it. We've all thought it, but this is bigger than us. We don’t see the big picture. We don’t understand what’s happening. The numbers are wrong. The sources are skewed. We are growing impatient and it's showing. Our lack of humanity is on display. Our selfishness is sneaking out. We can’t hide behind the disguise. We want out and unfortunately many of us will suffer because of our lack of patience. Ecclesiastes reminds us that there is nothing new under the sun, and to everything there is a season. This just happens to be an uncomfortable one.
Intrepid
in·trep·id /inˈtrepəd/
adjective
fearless; adventurous (often used for rhetorical or humorous effect).
Kids are fearless. They are willing to do and try anything. They do not comprehend the danger associated with their actions. They innately trust people. They are not paralyzed by failure. They simply get up and try again. I see it every day with my daughter. She is learning to walk. She falls all the time, but she gets up and tries again. She hurts herself, but she tries again. We could take a page from her playbook. How many times have we failed? How many times have we just given up? How many times have we been paralyzed by fear? Why don’t we try again? Why can’t we be fearless? It’s all in our head. It is a mindset. Today, I want to remind you that we have been power. We have a sound mind. We are intrepid.
2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV) For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Meditate
Phillipians 4:8 NKJV Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
I based my whole book series on this verse. I recognized that our minds can easily drift to negative places. We naturally focus on what’s going wrong instead of what’s going right. We allow ourselves to panic. We think the worst and even prepare for it, but what if we allowed ourselves to meditate on the word of God? What if we meditated on his promises? What if we meditated on our God-given victories? What if we cleared our minds and thought about what brings us joy? What if we thought about what makes us smile? What if we thought about all our blessings? If you find yourself struggling with anxiety, maybe you should meditate.
Sustenance
Psalm 37:25 KJV I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
God uses food in unique ways. He fed Adam and Eve in a garden. He gave manna to the children of Israel. He used a raven to feed Elijah. He fed the masses with five loaves of bread and two fish. God uses food to provide strength. God uses food to provide sustenance. God uses food to increase our faith and even to inspire the miraculous. I can say that I have probably eaten better during this pandemic than I have in a long time. God uses food to heal and restore. How is God providing sustenance for you?
Routine
I have lost track of the days of the week. Every day seems like the weekend. Trash day is the only important day of the week. I had to get a routine together for the sake of my sanity. I need to get up. I need to accomplish something, even if it’s just getting out of the bed. The kids still have assignments for school. My husband has to go to work. Clothes have to be washed. Meals have to be cooked. There are things to do. Establishing a daily routine has helped bring some normalcy to my house. I can’t move the same way I used to, but a routine has helped me and maybe you too!
Heroes
Real heroes don't wear capes. They are on the front lines fighting an invisible villain. They are wiping down grocery carts and stocking shelves. They are volunteers at testing centers. They are bus and truck drivers. They are garbage collectors. They are postal workers. They are nurses and doctors. They are in drive-thrus. They are in warehouses. They are civil servants. They are essential. They are making everyday life a little bit easier. They are risking their well-being for ours. They are our real life heroes. Thank you for all you do!!!!
New Normal
We have no idea what our “new normal” will look like after this. I’m sure we will be more cognizant of our health. We might turn into germophobes. We might feel safer inside. We might wash our hands more than we did in the past. And that’s okay. We might love a little harder, and breathe a little deeper and that’s okay too. We might value our family and relationships more. We might keep in touch a little bit more. Technology might be integrated into our lives a bit more. Our new normal might include more of this and less of that. It’s okay. We are all adjusting to our “new normal.”