I've been trying to look at the positives during Crazy Covid. I actually started a list. Ironically, Pastor Nick ended his message this morning by challenging us to set our minds on things we can be grateful for during this time of uncertainty and angst. I took up my list again and revised it. Here are the unexpected benefits of living with this pandemic.
- Skipping the makeup. It makes no sense to wear makeup when it's going to end up melting into the lining of your mask. Besides, half my face is covered and my glasses are fogged, so no one knows what I look like anyway. It's not a bad thing.
- Keeping my coffee breath to myself. I no longer go through a pack a day of gum. Again, masks have their benefits.
- Doing livestream church while having coffee and biscotti with my husband on the comfy couch. For good or for bad, this is something I’ll miss when we physically start attending church again.
- Facetiming and getting snaps from the grandkids. I have to put in one bummer here. We have missed out on seeing our grands. But the snaps help.
- Living in a small town. People are relaxed here and not scared of one another. There isn’t mayhem in the streets. Our local grocery store had toilet paper when no one else did.
- Becoming a tribe with my co-workers during the lockdown. For months, we were it. When you see no one other than your family and your co-workers, you get tight.
- Reconnecting with our church friends from California. Since March the pastor we had at the Vineyard started online devotions every morning at 8:00. Several of our friends from the Vineyard tune in to Devos with P. Bob as well. Pastor Bob’s messages have been so encouraging and refreshing to us.
- Becoming closer to family members. The sibs and I are more intentional in reaching out to one another. It was rare that I talked to my brothers on the phone. Now, it’s become a thing we do every week.
- Painting! Grateful for the timing of taking up art again. I joined a Facebook watercolor group. Have loved learning from and sharing with other artists.
- Keeping it in perspective. It’s so easy to become frustrated, anxious and even angry by everything going on. It's good to remember God has human history in His hands. It takes discipline to put our eyes where they need to be and to choose gratitude.
Keep going friends. Wherever this leads us, like Dory on Finding Nemo, we need to just keep swimming.
