But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
They will run and not grow weary,
They will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:31
Hope is in the air! Do you feel it? Everywhere we look, spring flowers are bursting into bloom. The songs of birds are growing louder every day, especially for us the squeaking of eagles and the crowing of crows chasing them.
Everyone aged 16 and older is eligible to get vaccinated. Those of us 65 and older can now stop feeling guilty about our enviable status as fully vaccinated. But, even more precious, we can once again visit our friends and family members in retirement centers and nursing homes – many of whom have spent most of a year in isolation without visitors. What a joy it has been for me and my sister to visit with my mom in her room after a winter of chilly outdoor visits in the cold wrapped in blankets and layers. We even had a mini reunion with my sisters and mom when my twin sister drove up recently from California.
When a group of us delivered Valentine’s treats and Easter goodies to some of our church members, deliverers were able to actually visit in-person and remind these cherished members of their importance to our church family.
As we tentatively start to return to normal, my hope is that we will bring with us some important lessons learned during this pandemic. Connections with family and church family are precious and need to be nourished. Check in with calls, cards, video chats, texts. Enjoy walks outside in our beautiful Pacific Northwest. Listen to the birds and stop to smell the flowers. Know how much kindness means to others and how little it takes to make someone’s day. Be slow to anger, quick to compliment, and long on forgiveness. Once we can return to in-person services again, let’s all celebrate like we never have. I can’t wait!
Joyce Frost, Congregational Care