Parents, Groundhog Day has just been extended. Last night the Ohio Governor’s office extended the “stay at home” order through May 29! “If April showers bring May flowers, what do May flowers bring? Pilgrims”… aaaand more quarantine! When I was learning to swim, my instructors were infamous for standing a few feet from the edge of the pool and urging us to jump in and swim to them, but as we swam closer they began to back up, encouraging us to “come on, you can do it,” but always extending how far we had to swim. We all felt a little manipulated, but we were becoming stronger swimmers. Eventually, we were able to swim across the pool without an instructor there to trick, I mean, teach us. I admit, I may have used this same technique to teach some kids to swim too… so there is a whole generation of kids out there who have learned not only to swim, but to never trust a swim instructor! And they may have also learned that they were capable of swimming much further than they ever thought possible. Perhaps, we are learning during this pandemic that we can endure some things we never thought possible as the finish line continues to be pushed out. Before you get the wrong idea, the Ohio Governor and his staff have done a marvelous job of navigating this dangerous situation, encouraging us that we can do it... and I trust that these decisions are being made in an abundance of caution and care for people’s welfare. No one ever promised that this order would not be extended. This is an opportunity to trust that God has a plan and we can grow stronger in our faith through all this.
James, the brother of Jesus, who was no stranger to hardship, has some encouragement for us all. “Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:2-4 (CSB) This joy comes not from having to endure the hardship, but it comes from the fact that God loves us enough to entrust us with these trials so that we can continue to grow closer with Him and His children. We can emerge stronger, closer, and more mature in our relationship with God and each other as we, in the words of Dory in “Finding Nemo,” “just keep swimming, swimming, swimming”... and we encourage those around us to do the same.
Hang in there people! God is with us! I’m praying for you all!
