Where There's Life, There's Hope

Even though everybody living in Spring 2020 is going through the same thing right now - a world pandemic, I'm prefacing with the reminder for when I look back some day and re-read this.

We are on day 16 of quarantine. I haven't been able to write because these days I forget what day it is let alone stringing coherent thoughts together. Daily lists help me make a routine while also providing time to cook, read, sleep, relax, exercise, clean the house, and work on what I can from home.

These days, it's hard to look past the big picture of the pandemic and quarantine, to the bigger picture of what God is doing, so I have just been focusing on details.

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien is one of my very favorite books, and although I haven't read it for awhile (I might just have to start re-reading it after I'm done writing!) there is so much wisdom and hope in the midst of uncertainty in it. A line of Gandalf's came to me as I was walking around the neighborhood today - “I have found that it is the small everyday deed of ordinary folks that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love."

The small, everyday things I intentionally take notice of are breathing hope into me these days -

Reading Exodus in the Bible and being reminded that God is bigger than wild times
wild flowers, budding trees, and other elements of nature on neighborhood walks
giving homemade cookies to our mailman
hot mugs of tea and honey
slow kisses and extra snuggles with my husband
technology and the ability to connect with family, friends, church, and work from home
plenty of food and time to try new recipes
neighborhood walks and hikes
a balcony to look at the night sky and sunsets off of
an abundance of books
laughter
playing games
drawing, painting, and mailing cards
silly Snapchats and Instagram stories
sharing with our neighbors
sweet neighbor lady who keeps an eye out for packages for me
heavy blankets
naps
a cozy home
completing my office decorations
birds chirping me awake