52 days and a new view

Some people take longer to get the message, and sadly I might be one of them. 

When this virus reared its ugly head, it was all doom and gloom for many, including me. We focused on what we cannot do, we were waiting for it to end, and just passed time watching movies and shopping online.

Somewhere in the third week, I decided to get myself together and make the most of this time. As the focus shifted, I noticed we watched less movies, and stopped looking at the swimming pool so wistfully. 

We read more, we talked more, we played more. I got some filing work done, some planning, journalling, caught up on bible reading; and the kids... they played more, fought more, learnt how to be happy with themselves and their space instead of always needing their time to be filled with activities - most significantly, I don't hear them whining that they're bored (which they did, even before the lockdown)

They are excited to study, and just as excited to have the day off. I've loosened up on the meals as I notice it seemed as if we have been eating all day! So we have a good nutritious breakfast, and then dinner. In between, they have milk, fruits or make themselves a sandwich if they are hungry. It makes so much more sense, and it's easier on everyone. 

When this lockdown ends, I'm more than ready to meet friends, family and friends who are like family. But in the meantime, I'm thankful for our home; I'm thankful that throughout the years we have constantly strived to make it our bubble, our safe place, our happy place, our home. Caring for others is important, and noble; but we first need to care for ourselves. Caring for ourselves, for me, is having a place that I can wind down in, that I can be myself in, that I don't need to worry about being judged or having my every movement, misstep and weakness reported out, and I thank God for that; for I no longer take it for granted. 

And just as I am grateful for my space, I'm grateful for this time; time to catch up on things put off, time to catch up on conversations and studies and creativity and sleep. Time to compete with ourselves and not with the Joneses. Time to look in the mirror, and after a long, hard look; get to working on areas I'm not to happy with - physically, spiritually or mentally.

Lastly, but most importantly, I'm grateful for the hope we have in Christ, for His unchanging love and His word that remains true through the seasons. It's the only thing that did not change at all in this pandemic. They never rang truer than they do now :-

1 Corinthians 13:13 says 

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Love, Anne