A majority of the things I am hearing and reading are negative and anxiety-inducing. Rightfully so. We are living in a moment–a time in history that many after us will learn about. However, if you are like me, there is a deep inner craving to hear at least one piece of good news in the midst of all the bad news. As I was sitting in my room a few days back, I wondered, Are people experiencing anything positive right now? I wonder if being home all day or slowing down has done a good work in the souls of those around me. I asked my family and friends the following question and found some pieces of good news to savor and rejoice in. Hope your fears and anxieties can take a backseat as you read some of the sweet things that are happening in the midst of all of this.
"What’s something unexpected yet good that you’ve experienced because of social distancing for the virus?"
"Since I’m always working, my cows aren’t as close to me as they are to my dad, but now, I get to see them a bit more. Two days ago I was the only one who witnessed Flaca give birth to a healthy baby girl. When I went to check on the baby, I told Flaca I was just checking on the baby to make sure she okay (Yes, I talk to my cows they understand me. Haha.) Flaca mooed and swung her head to the side and backed up to let me check on her baby. She was so beautiful. My parents ended up naming her Corona. My mom said, "Even during this crisis there was something precious born into the world.""
"Time with my sister while taking care of my mom."
"A spiritual reset–the opportunity that normal, fast paced American life does not afford."
"I thought virtually things might fall mostly flat, but I’ve used social media to invite people to my virtual church each week, and each week I have noticed there have been at least 3-4 of my friends/followers who have "silently" watched along with me. Some of them do not know Jesus, but they are curious because there is the commonality of fear of the unknown in the whole world right now, and it’s so easy now to “slip into” a church without really being seen."
"More time spent with my parents! Also learning that I can structure my free time the same way I structure a normal day."
"There was so much smoke in the air as I walked by my daily life. Some days I could not see which way was up or down. But in the midst of all the smoke, Jesus made something clear to me: I am not okay with just sitting and doing nothing. I struggle with being a very works-based person. Sitting and reading stories of people who are dying and suffering isn’t easy. Knowing that when someone dies, families can’t even feel the touch of a loved one because we are quarantined leads me to think, How can I sit in my home of luxury and do nothing? I have to do something! But God has spoken to me saying, “No son, let me do the work.” He cleared the smoke for me. He offered to take the burden of my heartache from me. God stepped in and offered clarity!"
"The Church’s walls are down now, and I’m just delighted. Before this, I knew the entire Body of Christ is out there living, loving, working, and worshipping in different churches and denominations across the city and beyond. But last Sunday morning with so many local churches broadcasting their services online, I got to see their faces… listen to their messages… sing their songs… and feel like we are finally One like Jesus wants us to be, even if it’s just for one hour a week."
"Nothing should be taken for granted, like another day or graduation or walking into HEB and knowing I could get the food I want or being able to just go see a friend when I wanted to. I’ve been putting my hope in certain things for a long time, and quarantine/social distancing gave me a better understanding of how shaky things really are. Not knowing how things are going to play out doesn’t matter because my hope shouldn’t be in things. It’s all about knowing who to hope in!"
"The Lord is teaching me how to be provided for! He has been really ministering to my heart about how I am His child and He loves to take care of me and all He asks of me is me."
"Comparison has always just been really hard for me, to the point where having a needed, slow, restful weekend was difficult for me if I knew my friends were out doing things and having fun. Social distancing has alleviated that social pressure and brought me back to doing things that I love to do, not being so focused on what everyone else is doing!"
"I’ve been able to reconnect with myself and re-establish a good relationship with who I am. I’ve become more confident in the idea that I am wonderfully made. Jesus is the only one I can turn to in moments of desperation, lack of confidence, and confusion."
"I’ve discovered a newfound creative side of myself that I didn’t know I had. I’ve learned more about myself and my desires."
"I’ve been in close proximity with my roommates who prior to this year I didn’t know. But through this time of being "shut in" together, we’ve been able to workout together, start fun gardening habits together, and start a Bible reading plan together. It’s been a really sweet time of being shown community in an unexpected way."
"I’ve gotten to spend extended time with Jesus in His Word."
"Friends are there for you no matter what. My friends have been there to talk even though we can’t hang out in person."
"Our family has been more intentional about time. Time together with games, a puzzle, read aloud books, a special tv series to watch together, everybody has a designated night to cook. There is so much intentionality. And we are finding fun and contentment together."
"God has been teaching me what obedience without distractions looks like! Even if what He called me to do doesn’t have the outcome I expected, I have peace in knowing that He still uses it, and I’ve been able to say, "Yes Lord, I will do what you ask of me!""
"Different functions in a family- the way that more time has nurtured different parts of us. And I have been able to see different parts of each family member that I wouldn’t normally notice because of our usual routine."
"I’ve had time to spend with my roomates. We’re all seniors and going different directions in a couple months."
"I didn’t realize it, but it’s sort of what I’ve been asking God for. Without all the distractions from myself, I’ve been forced to deal with all of me, the good and the bad. I’ve learned that I am really guarded. I protect myself from being vulnerable by staying distant. I’m not 100% open with anyone because of the fear of getting hurt. I stopped being vulnerable with God as well. I used to come to Him every night and just cry to Him. God has brought me back to the foundation of our relationship. He’s working on my trust with others by drawing me back to intimacy with Him."
"Getting to reconnect with old friends!"
"I never thought a pandemic would result in more quality time with my family. The world around us is far from ideal, but being around them makes it seem distant."
"Not being able to hug my grandchildren has been hard. Now I appreciate more being able to give hugs."
"I have had a lot of quality time with my husband. We have talked, hiked, laughed, and watched so much television! We usually have responsibilities to be somewhere every night, so it’s been nice to come home from work and relax."
"It’s given me the chance to fully stop and soak in the life I currently live before I go to college next year and say goodbye."
"My faith that God’s Kingdom will grow has increased so much! I have faith for people to come to know God during this time! I’ve been praying that people are going to find security and hope in God rather than our jobs, careers, relationships, and anything else people pursue to find belonging or security in."
"The ability to still serve God despite the stricter limitations."
"I’ve been learning how to deal with not being able to see my family and friends. I value quality time and physical touch. As hard as it is to be far away from my brothers and sisters in Christ and family, being obedient to the rules that are in place for our safety is important. We are reflecting Christ in still being available to others by using FaceTime or maybe if we have the ability to do so, dropping off essentials at someone’s house. It’s new and different, but we can still be the church and the body during these times of being physically apart."
"I have had time. Time to do anything. And that’s something I haven’t had for the past four years of college. This virus has forced me to slow down and ask myself, “Where am I putting my hope?” It’s redirected my attention to Jesus and His desire for me to rest in Him."
"This is the first time I’ve been able to spend an extended amount of time with my family during a non-holiday in a long time."
"I was kind of in a rut before all of this, but since it started, I’ve been feeling more creative."
"I’ve grown deeper relationships with my coworkers and formed a new community of people at Chick-fil-A."
"My family has started taking a walk together almost every night."
"I’m single and live alone. I’ve been feeling a lot of stress at the prospect of being alone during this time, especially because my job is so social, and a friend reached out to be a couple of weeks ago to say I was welcome at her house with her family any time. I have been staying with them most of the last few weeks now. (Don’t worry, we are practicing good social distancing and not going out and about. I’m basically the sixth member of their family!) It’s filled my heart in an unexpected way. I’ve been able to be with them for family dinners and movie nights and more. To have that in my life and to not be isolated is helping me through my anxiety in a way that I can’t fully explain in words. Being with them in the day-to-day of life has been the most unexpected part: seeing beauty in the normal, seemingly-boring parts of all our stories and how much joy can be found in those moments. These are memories that I’ll have for the rest of my life."
"More boldness in prayer- in my own personal prayer life and boldness to pray for and with others."
"Just because I’m not around people all the time does not mean our relationships are broken or do not exist anymore."
"I enjoy the quiet moments of the morning a little more. I haven’t felt rushed."
"I’ve gotten to accomplish tasks I’ve had on my to do list for months, some of them years: making my room the space I’ve always wanted it to be, starting an herb garden in my backyard, and exploring my city more in depth. It’s refreshing having the gift of extra time. It’s one of the most valuable things we possess."
"I’ve enjoyed not having to run off to something all the time or having my kids leaving out the door and being absent for meals…feels more grounded in our home."
"Meeting new people, weirdly enough! I was introduced to my parent’s neighbor who’s my age and is also home because of the virus. We would have never met had we both not been forced to stay home and just play around the neighborhood."
"More time to spend with Jesus and focus on what’s eternal."
"I see neighbors walking our street who I literally have not seen out and about in the five years we’ve lived here. Also, the reality of how interconnected our world is, how interdependent we are on one another across this globe is in sharp focus now. I think the Lord would always want it to be so."
“Teaching my girls to sew and them making masks. Eating at home and enjoying cooking with each other. Being intentional about my meals and losing 5 pounds. My husband being able to pray with me every morning! Walking daily. Reading books I want to read!"
"I have found myself asking the question Why not? to myself. Like why not workout? Why not be in the Word more? Why not spend time praying for people?"
"Finding new ways to enjoy exercising by working out with my mom via FaceTime and Instagram live workouts."
"I wanted to move back “home” a few months ago and I thought I couldn’t possibly miss anything or anyone here if I did. I’ve been able to reflect on what God’s been doing in my heart over the last months. I realized how much I’ve come to love the people He’s placed in my life here and I’ve genuinely missed you guys although it’s only been a few weeks. Now I know that San Marcos and Rock River are home."
"Taking walks. There is so much noise right now- more than ever before. But taking walks provides the moments of quiet. I move forward but my mind stays still. Appreciating God’s creation: the setting sun reflecting upon the lake, the teddy bears sitting in windowsills, and pink hearts chalked on sidewalks saying, "We can do this together.""
"I’ve gotten to talk to and reconnect a lot more with my older brother. He is stationed overseas and I never got to talk to him much because of the 14 hour time difference."
"For the past three months, I’ve been struggling with many things. Comparison being one. So, in an unexpected moment, when people are using technology to feel more connected with other people, I deleted all forms of social media. Strangely, I found it liberating. I find myself happier and worrying much less. I feel more myself."
"I didn’t expect how much total strangers are willing to help. I watched a man get a grocery order from an elderly woman because she was too scared to go inside the grocery store and he got her everything she needed. It is amazing to see how many people want to help, even when they don’t have money to give. One lady came up to me the other day and I was telling her all about what I do for the Corona Virus Relief Effort. She said she was currently out of a job because of the shelter-in-place rules and had kids to feed but still donated $50."
"This time has allowed me more alone time and much more time for creating and making music. Boredom is essential in the creative process, and being bored is something our society avoids at all costs, so being able to be bored and sit in that has been valuable."
"Doing the simple life things: riding bikes, going on walks, nightly front yard Wiffle ball games, and family dinners with everyone in attendance!"
"Being forced to slow down. This is something that I feel like Jesus has been trying to teach me for a while. It’s been so good to find some silence and solitude."
"I had an unexpected opportunity to pray with a young mother overwhelmed with current circumstances. What a gift it was to share my peace that comes from Christ alone."
"I’ve had the chance to do things that I love that haven’t had time to do in a while like painting, reading, trying new recipes, and learning calligraphy."
"I didn’t expect how much I would want to serve those in my home. I find myself cooking for them with an unexpected joy, even though the kitchen intimidates me. Lol. I’ve also been washing dishes and taking out the trash. Normally, I would get annoyed doing those things."
"I have learned about Google classroom and zoom. I have enjoyed lots of family time and creative ways to spend time with others. For example, we got to celebrate a birthday the other day by inviting people to sit in their car trunks in a circle and chat."
"I’m so used to having my happiness come from being busy/always doing things, but now I’m content in the stillness of everything."
"Losing my job suddenly and having to move back home. Even though it happened so abruptly and I was upset, it has been so fruitful. It has allowed me to spend more time with my family, rest more in God’s presence, made me appreciate technology to continue friendships, and has given me the opportunity to save the money I make instead of having to use it to pay rent."
"God has been showing me how to manage time, a lesson I never thought I’d find myself learning when there is nothing on my schedule."
"Spending more time talking. We’re usually all so busy and on totally different schedules with work, but it’s been really great to sit, think of them, and just call to talk and say I love them."
"We are less hurried. Hurrying leaves little room for patience and for God to speak into our lives! And we are finding that only He can quiet our hearts and minds. I’ve had more time to sit in my emotions and really process with the Lord."
"The absence of extra-curricular activities. I thought it would be miserable for the girls. It’s been so nice not to have to rush through school. They are able to sleep in and still get everything done."
"Being alone is not always lonely. Sometimes it is needed."
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