Things I did for the first time in a year:

 

1.) Dusted off my purse and sandals.  2.) Wore earrings.  3.) Got into our car.  4.) Left our property.      5.) Went to a store.  

Yes, in the last 12 months I had not done any of those.  But it was my birthday, and I decided to celebrate!  We were only out of the house a little over an hour, but it was long enough to see that not much has changed...but also long enough to allow me to feel a little less like a hermit!                                                                                                                                                **********************

BUT...the things I WAS able to do and have during the last year are so much more important!   In most every way, the basic foundation of my life continued as usual.  (I have underlying health issues, so have always been somewhat home-bound.) Maybe your situation is different, and your routines have been disrupted or turned upside-down.  But what about your values, your heart, your soul, your spirit?  The pandemic need not affect them negatively - unless you let it.  

For me, the things that really matter include a very supportive husband, contact with family, e-mail conversations with a couple of special friends...and above all,  my most-essential friendship with my Lord.  What could be more important?

How I wish that the people who whine so much about pandemic restrictions, and their "rights", would realize how transitory are some of the things they allow to offend them!  (If they want to complain, they can get rid of their angst by railing against the Coronavirus itself- it's tough, it can handle it!) They would do well to consider a different approach: following Ephesians 4:2:. 

"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient. bearing with one another in love."

                                ****************************

Let's try to keep our focus on what really matters in our lives, during the pandemic.  As terrible as the circumstances are, let's not live "under them".  They may not change, and could get worse.  But we CAN live "above them". It's not always easy, I know.  But it is definitely possible, and with God's help, definitely do-able.  

                                          "I remain confident of this:

    that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living!    

             Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage;

                                              wait for the LORD!                  (Psalm 27:13-14)