Here we are.
So, dear friends, here we are. After more than 2 months. I’m back. :) Things have changed since April when I last wrote! The lockdown has nearly ended -- for most of us. I hope and pray that each of you is able to come out of isolation now, reunite with loved ones and go to school and work again. There are many in the world who are still in danger from COVID and many who are grieving their losses or suffering ill health themselves. I continue to pray for them and to donate support, and I know you do, too.
I think it is not an exaggeration to say that we have all been through trauma. We are all going through a recovery from that. How do you feel? Do things seem different? Are you different?
I can’t quite figure out how I feel. During the lockdown, I was more anxious than I think I ever have been in my life. I have not, to my knowledge, experienced what medicine would define as depression but I wondered if maybe I did during the lockdown. Every day, all day, I felt like I might cry. If there was a moment of silence, a pause of some kind, I’d feel a lump in my throat and tears perched on the edge of my eyes, ready to pour out. And I couldn’t pin down exactly what was causing that sad emotion. Fear, for sure, but I often couldn’t find specific things causing sadness at a specific moment. Even when I was laughing, having fun, enjoying myself, suddenly the lump and pending tears would surface again. When the lockdown started I thought I’d be fine, and perhaps even enjoy it. I like solitude, silence, staying home, reading, being with my family, working from home, everything the lockdown forced on us. I was surprised by my sadness.
What about you?
Oprah wrote a book called What I Know for Sure. I haven’t read it but I have heard her ask many people she’s interviewed, “What do you know for sure?” Barbara Brown Taylor asks, “What is saving your life right now?” During the lockdown, I tried to collect answers to those questions. In my blog, I called the collection “Help in the time of coronavirus.” What did you find helpful? What do you find helpful now?
Now that things are pretty much back to normal, I wonder, what did I learn? How am I different? To be honest, I seem to be blocking it out. I avoid thinking about that time. That seems unhealthy. I need to think and pray about my avoidance.
One thing I know for sure, though, now and in the past, is that God loves me and God loves you.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. --Romans 8:38-39
Various things have happened recently that remind me to add -- like Mr. Rogers -- “just the way you are.” I hear people judging themselves about not doing enough or somehow not measuring up, either to a standard they’re holding up to themselves or to their concept of God. Jesus doesn’t come to us and say, “I’ll love you if…” There’s no if. He says, “I love you.” Period.
Rahab’s Lullaby (God Above, God Below) Sarah MacIntosh, Rachael Lampa.
What can I pray about for you?
What is this?? A while back, I had an idea. I was thinking of some friends I wanted to pray for, but I didn't have a specific thing to pray about on their behalf. I decided to pray that they would feel God's love. I decided to send them an email when I prayed, so they'd know and be encouraged. Then I thought about my many other family and friends who I would like to encourage with prayer and decided to start this email.
Two things I try to do:
-- Encourage you with a reminder of God's love. My goal is to avoid anything where the response is "I should..." Just a short reflection of God's love.
-- Pray for you. I'll pray with each email, and please reply to me with anything you'd specifically like me to pray for you. I'll keep it confidential, don't worry.
You can opt-out any time, no hurt feelings, no need for explanation, no worries. Just reply with a subject like "Unsubscribe" or "Opt out" or "No thanks" or whatever. If you would like to send me specific prayer requests. I will gladly pray with you. Email me at mavis at moonfamily.cc. I'll keep all communication confidential.