From the Inside Looking Out: COVID-19

I’ve thought long and hard whether or not to weigh in on the COVID-19 dilemma. I’m pretty good at staying positive, biting my tongue and turning the other cheek but I also promise to stay real with you. So here goes nothing. 

Now for some this may seem hypocritical since I recently travelled out of the country, but hear me out. When we left the US on 3/8/20 things were “normal.” There were a few cases in Washington state and NY. When returning home on 3/12/20, just four days later, confirmed cases were popping up in every state, including North Carolina. Are you following that it spread quickly in four days? Why? Because at that time there were no restrictions.

Thursday night when we picked up Aubrey I didn’t hug my parents and we stayed at least 6 feet from them.  Why? Because we had just come out of 3 different airports with thousands of people who had only been exposed to who knows what.  Extreme? Maybe...think what you want. I did a few errands on Friday, all with drive-thru access, because they were necessary to keep our household functioning in the coming weeks.  And no, I didn’t stock up on TP.

Since I quarantined myself Friday at 11 am I’ve had lots of time to scroll social media and to say I’m disappointed is an understatement.  The number of people complaining, Monday morning quarterbacking and not following guidelines is ridiculous. Last I checked most have not worked in government, education or healthcare and had to make life-altering decisions yet they’re experts on all of the above and more.  

The decisions to close schools, cancel events, and alter schedules has nothing to do with politics or even the media.  Has the media had something to do with this? YES! They’ve tried to inform you by showing you what other countries have gone through when social distancing and proactive measures were not put into place.  So maybe instead of looking to them for blame, look at them as informative. Whether you agree or disagree with them is beside the point.  

And let’s talk about our kids for a minute.  Is it an inconvenience for working parents that schools are closed?  YES. However, I’m sure that if your child contracted this virus while at school, you would be the first one to blame someone for “not shutting down the schools.”  We turn to technology for everything else so education and religion can go there too for a few weeks if needed.

Social distancing is not a snow day.  It’s not a time to have play dates, go to the park, skating rink or any of those things.  It means stay home. Period. Oh, and when we break rules as adults what kind of example are we setting for our children?  We’re basically saying that it’s okay for them to do whatever they want, whenever they want regardless of who says not to. I don’t think that is raising good future citizens.

As someone who has a husband whose job is considered essential personnel, I’m a tad concerned.  He has to come into contact with people and we want him to come back home to us. Trust me when I say he’ll be heavily armed with sanitizer and wipes for each shift.  

So do I think all this was started by the government just because it is an election year? No.  Do I think God sometimes does things to make us take a step back and slow down? YES!! Just take a quick read of Psalm 46:10.

Use this time to reconnect with family, clean out those closets you’ve been putting off and read the book you never got to last summer.  Get creative with your kids, have date nights at home and spend some quiet time with Jesus. When it’s all said and done, all you have is family anyway.