Peace Amid the Storm by Laura Rodgers

It’s time to write. That’s the message my brain and heart keep sending me in this unimaginable time in which we find ourselves. My days, like many of yours, are a roller coaster of emotions. After a cup of coffee, I start my morning with energy and a thankful heart. I am thankful for good health and the love of family and friends. I am grateful for extra time to reconnect with friends from all stages of my life. Three dear high school friends and I have been exchanging texts to laugh about things like “TP-ing” houses and other pranks from our teenage days. As I laugh out loud, I’ve had to share a couple of these stories with my husband and kids, who are sitting nearby, and wondering why I’m laughing. College friends are sharing jokes that only resonate with the lovers of all things ’80s (John Hughes movies, MTV, hair bands, Air Rock bands, etc.). I am thankful for the time to have the kind of daily routine that comes from less “busy-ness.” Morning devotional, reading from my stack of books, writing in my journal, exercise, cooking, baking, crafting praying—all the things I said I’d do when I had more time or when I retire (full disclosure —I’m not doing ALL these every day). I am thankful for devoted health professionals and public officials who are acting in our best interests. During the day, I plug into my remote work at a financial firm. I appreciate how well the kids are doing with home school and how much they enjoy our flexible routine. I’m glad we’re managing to get along most of the time. I think of new activities we can share as a family. We dust off all the board games and puzzles, but we also take the desperately needed alone time that is essential to mental health. At night, often the weight of what we’re experiencing crashes in as I get tired and sometimes teary. I embrace these moments with a couple of Kleenexes. Then I have turned to scripture that focuses on not being afraid. My dad shared Psalm 130 with our family this week in a text string we’re enjoying. A book I read with my 2BC community group last year has lifted me too—Adam Hamilton’s Unafraid. At the end is a daily list of scriptures on fear, including Joshua 1–9 and Philippians 4:4–7. I also take comfort in the social media posts from friends who are feeling that same weight and being open about it. If you’re one of those, please keep it up. I’m so thankful for the online services provided by our church and the closeness we can feel even by connecting from our separate spaces. Blessings to all of us as we move through these days.