Incomparable

Sometimes, I think I forget I serve a big God. I serve a God who created the heavens and the earth. I serve a God who created the land and the sea and everything in it. I serve a God who sits high and looks low. I serve a God that cares about every grain of sand and every nerve ending. I serve a God who made microscopic organisms and mammoths. It’s all about perspective. I serve the same God who was, is, and is to come. Nothing had taken God by surprise, not this virus, pandemic or even our response to it. So, either I am going to trust God or not. My life and times are in his hands. So, come what may. I still serve an incomparable God that’s still in control.

Motivation

You may wake up and feel like you don’t want to do anything. You may feel like the chores can wait. Everything can wait. Guess what? It can. You are living in the midst of a pandemic. Nothing is regular. Your routine is not normal. Things are different, and so are you. It’s okay. You lack motivation. You are tired. You are not your usual self. It’s okay. The routine will come. The new normal will become your normal. You will feel better. You will find your motivation. Until then, relax.

Strength

Commercials are the best. I remember the Secret deodorant commercial that always reminded us that it’s “strong enough for a man, but ph balanced for a woman.” Women are often thought of as the weaker species, but I was surrounded by women who had strength. My grandmother was a sharecropper. My mother was one of the first black students to integrate her high school. My aunt was in the military. I have a family full of survivors. Sometimes, we have to recognize that there is strength in letting go. There is strength in walking away. There is strength in not doing. There is strength in resting in God’s grace. There is strength in weakness. This Mother’s Day celebrate the women who have taken off their cape of busyness. This Mother’s Day celebrate the women who recognize the source of their strength. This Mother’s Day celebrate all the baby weight. This Mother’s Day celebrate all the scars and all the flaws. This Mother’s Day celebrate the women who found the strength to push past their fears and insecurities. This Mother’s Day celebrate all women who have nurtured, sacrificed, stepped up, and been present in your life regardless of their title. Happy Mother’s Day!

Remember

Organization is key. We have nothing but time on our hands. We finally have the time to do all those projects around the house. We have time to take that online course. We have time to binge watch our favorite shows. Don’t forget that this is not a regular thing that we are experiencing. Remember that family is important. Remember you still need time for yourself. Remember it’s okay to feel. Remember that this is different for everyone. Remember that there are people who are experiencing this pandemic in a different way. Remember the less fortunate. Remember the grieving. Remember this lesson.

Happy Place

You’ve got to find your happy place. I know it’s hard to find a happy place under quarantine. I’m so used to finding my happy place in public venues that I had to rethink “me” time. I have learned to appreciate silence and showers. I enjoy cupcakes and extra icing. I have a new appreciation for bluetooth speakers and IG live. These are the things that make me happy. Find your peace. Rediscover your joy. Find your happy place.

Now

There are no “do-overs.” We can’t change the past. We can shape tomorrow by what we do today. What are you doing now? If nothing else, this pandemic has taught me to be prepared. We don’t know what the future holds, but we can equip ourselves. We have the opportunity to shift our lives in ways we never could before this pandemic. There are free classes and tools that are accessible, now. There are ways to better ourselves, now. There are ways to be better prepared for similar circumstances, now. We can budget better, now. We can live better, now. Do something, anything, now!

Sabbath

It’s still Good Friday. He still died for our sins. He still rose on the third day. The world may still be distracted by this pandemic, but by his stripes we are still healed. . We may not fill the churches to capacity. We may not be able to worship collectively. But, It’s still the Sabbath!