Spring officially begins in just a couple of days. It’s normally a time of hope, excitement and renewal. This year, all that good stuff is being marred by uncertainty and anxiety, but I also think, at least for some, the coronavirus concerns are making people take a serious look at their priorities and their greatest blessings. Two of those are love and time!
Huge news stories like this coronavirus pandemic always prompt a big response from people. I think it’s an understatement to say that much of the response has been negative. But breaking through all the bad news have been a lot of nuggets of positivity and wisdom.
I have a lot of parents in my social media feeds. I see some very serious concerns. How will children who rely on schools for food, get the food and nutrition they need with schools closed? How will parents take care of small children if they have to work when schools are out? On the other hand, I’ve seen a huge community response aimed at helping these students and parents through this crisis: Food banks and volunteer organizations mobilizing to get food to kids who need it: The best of community and humanity coming out as we go through the worst of circumstances.
There are also so many stories of neighbors helping neighbors. The people at greatest risk during this public health crisis are our elderly friends, neighbors and family members. Once again, people are reaching out to make sure the elderly in the lives are getting the food and supplies they need. Many of these older people have serious health conditions and can’t risk going out, especially to a crowded grocery store.
We’ve all seen the pictures of empty toilet paper aisles at the grocery stores, but more powerful to me was a post that suggested that maybe stores should have a couple of hours a day to be open only to seniors. When I first saw this I thought…that’s a great idea, but it will never happen. But just this morning, I saw where at least one grocery store would be opening to seniors only for one hour a day. I think that’s amazing. Besides making sure seniors can get what they need without having to fight crowds and risk infection, it also puts them ahead of the pack as stores restock.
Some of us now have a little time away from jobs. The luckiest among us are continuing to get a regular paycheck. Now, we need to take that time and pair it up with the love and compassion that must of us have for our families, friends and communities and help get everybody through this.
Most of us have a huge capacity to love others, we just don’t always have time to show that love. People have work, school, kids… we have to get this done or that finished up. The next few weeks are uncertain, but many of us will now at least have some extra time. That time combined with the love we already have can be a powerful combination as we work our way through some challenges days ahead!
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