Corona: Our Response

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

#anxiety #overcomers #wetrustinHisname  #textingthetruthblog #calmmoms #coronavirus2020

Come and See

“Watch me, Mommy!” “Come look!” “Mom, did you see that?!”

I can’t tell you how many times everyday I hear those phrases from my kids. As much as I’d sometimes rather finish whatever item I am trying to check off the to-do list instead of going to watch whatever new trick they’ve mastered, I love that my kids want me to share in their experience. They want me to see them and know them.

I also love that God wants us to know Him. He invites us to come near to Him, to study Him, and to know Him.

In this week’s study in He Is Alive, author Becky Kiser pointed out that Jesus invited the first disciples to “come and see” where He was staying and what He was doing. After spending time getting to know Jesus, those men invited their brothers and friends to “come and see” Jesus, too. (John 1:35-51)

The amazing thing is that we all receive the same invitation to come and see Jesus! God went to such great lengths to send His Son to earth and to die for us, so that we can know Him. What a joy and privilege! 

I wonder what Jesus would invite me to come and see today? Where is He at work around me? Are my eyes open and attentive to what He is doing?

And, how can I continually invite my kids to “come and see” this amazing God, too? Maybe it’s taking a few extra moments to examine bugs together on the driveway or to marvel at the sounds of all the birds returning to our yard at the first signs of spring. Maybe it’s praying together in the van on the way to school or baseball practice. How can I take advantage of these little, everyday moments to turn my eyes and my kids’ eyes toward all that God is doing in our lives?

?Katie

P.S. There is still time to join our Lent book study or to join us in fasting for something during this season leading up to Easter. (See previous posts for more info!) If you’re joining us in either, leave a comment below to let us know you’re with us.