Recently I decided to start listening to a news podcast as part of my morning routine. I want to be informed but I’m wondering if that was a mistake. Every episode is overflowing with Coronavirus hype and criticism of how both sides of the political aisle are handling it. The speed of transmission seems pretty alarming as well.
How do we best respond to the Coronavirus outbreak?
We breathe. I’m taking a cue from a children’s book called “Get Me Out of This Book: Rules and Tools for Being Brave” by Dakos and Cholette. In it a scared bookmark learns to A) breathe deeply, B) make a plan and C) think good thoughts. These are great tools for adults, too!
We limit. In as little as 5 minutes, you can be updated. An IV drip of news only boosts anxiety. It’s easy to blame the media for stirring up panic but within the media are people with their own families and livelihoods on the line. An ‘everything is going to be okay’ headline isn’t enough to keep people tuning in. Take the facts, leave the rest.
We pray. Pray for moms and dads who have to work; pray that they find childcare so they can continue to provide. Pray for immune-compromised kids in your area. Pray for the elderly. Pray for your family. Pray for wisdom for our community leaders to make good decisions. Prayer opportunities are limitless!
We look around. Are there elderly neighbors nearby? Can you pick up any extra supplies or provide a meal?
We trust. While there are some levelheaded pediatricians publishing posts telling us to chill, there are also many media outlets and “experts” telling us to trust in our toilet paper supply, our bank accounts, our ability to work from home and our access to quality healthcare. Do not get sucked into the panic; it’s all too easy to fall into the river and get swept away.
My son and I went to Costco on Thursday evening and I was mentally preparing for the worst. (Hats off to those Cincinnati Costco employees – they did a fantastic job organizing the crowd and scanning items quickly!). My anxiety was rising as I scanned other people’s carts: I thought, “Wait, do I need three spinach quiches?” “Will I regret it if I don’t buy 24 boxes of Easy Mac right now?” Somehow “just in case” turned into “the world is ending, ahhhhhhhhhh!”
Here are 3 verses to hold onto:
Psalm 20:7 NIV: “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”
2 Timothy 1:7 NIV: “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”
You can do this, mama! As Romans 8:31 NIV says, “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
~Virginia
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