Don't just choose joy...a new challenge

For those of us in the Kansas City area (and now many other areas of the country as well, and I recognize other parts of the world have been going through this for even longer), today marks the end of day #4 of our stay-at-home order.  I feel like there has been a big shift in the population.  When I went to the store today for a few things, I washed my hands, wiped down my cart, got my stuff, paid for it from behind the plexiglass set up to distance the cashier from me, took my receipt, put my bags in my car, and washed my hands again.  I also took time to wave to a friend I saw in the checkout line, keep my cart to the very side of the aisle so people could pass as far on the other side as possible, thanked my cashier, the sacker, and the gentleman collecting carts from the parking lot.  Many people in the store look completely terrified.  They forget to thank and smile at their cashier and the people serving them, even though these people are risking their health to be there and continue to take care of our needs.  They glare at you if you try to share their aisle, even from a fair distance away.  There were very few smiles.  And yes, there is still no toilet paper, antibacterial soap, disinfectant wipes, and very few paper towels to be found on the shelf.  So please be sure we are still smiling at our neighbors and the workers still serving us in essential businesses, from a responsible distance. 

This week, we have been the recipients of some amazing things.  Wednesday, a friend brought us a momento of this year that he 3-D printed :)  Thanks Steve for making us laugh this week!

Another friend of ours brought us a box of magazines he thought Jason would enjoy reading and dropped them on the porch.

Anna's sweet teacher set up a zoom meeting for these 3rd graders to be able to talk to and see each other for the first time since they left for spring break on the 12th.

Today is Sarah's 14th Birthday.  She had been bummed.  14 is a tough age anyway, and to not get to celebrate with her friends, plus finding out two major events she was looking forward to have been canceled, and that our Disney trip might not happen (though we are still holding out hope), she was feeling down about her day.  But, our community stepped up.  One lovely friend brought her a vase of flowers and beautiful homemade card.  So many of her old teachers and friends of ours made videos of themselves wishing her a happy birthday, singing to her, or dancing for her.  She received literally hundreds of facebook messages and texts and calls from family and friends.   She has not stopped smiling all day.  Thank you for everyone who reached out during the week to make sure that her day was extra special!  (And she did chose Cracker Barrel for dinner, and a chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream for dessert).

 Sarah at birth

Sarah today on her 14th Birthday

My college, where I attend nursing school, is also stepping up.  They are sending unused supplies (since they are closed and the nursing programs, respiratory therapy programs, and the like, have needed supplies like ventilators and PPE that aren't being used) to local hospitals to use.  https://www.jccc.edu/media-resources/press-releases/2020/03/college-donates-medical-supplies.html

These are examples of people not only choosing joy in this uncertain time.  They are choosing to help spread joy in spite of the fact that many of them are struggling with very real feelings of anxiety and fear.

So, my friends... that is your challenge today.  Don't just choose joy.  Spread joy to others.  Trust me...it will make a difference in your heart too.