My son and I just finished another puzzle, which we love to do but normally don’t find the time. My husband and I had a couple conversations today that had nothing to do with household management, child raising, or logistics. Our family dog is beside herself with contentment that, finally, all her people are home, just like she’s always told us we should be. And tonight, like every night for the past few weeks, we (well, we humans) will sit together to share a meal. In truth, that is typically a once- or twice-a-week happening, given our overwrought schedules, long nights of homework, and commitments that take us in every direction. We know we should manage more together time, but carving out that time has seemed impossible.
But the world had other ideas. Impossible? Ha!
All of a sudden, we—like many of you—have been called to be still. To stay put. To shelter in our own homes with whomever shares the same address. And while I’d change the reasons for these circumstances in a heartbeat if I could, I can only be deeply grateful for the gifts coming forward as a direct result of this experience. This family time—this unencumbered time to be together in simple, unobstructed ways—is a gift I didn’t realize we needed as badly as we do. But oh, how we do.
There is no skirting the fact that there are true hardships around the world. I am not blind to them. My own family has been challenged too. But they are all the more reason to look for the gifts. And they are everywhere.
Take our connections with one another. Almost overnight, the “differences” that have crafted such a wedge in society have melted away. In fact, the moment we are given the clearance, what joy we’ll have in gathering again, eh? In hugging one another….in greeting friends and strangers alike…and being delighted from our toes to do so. Not so true a few weeks ago.
And what a welcome gift it has been to see a renewal of appreciation for teachers and schools. Teachers are irreplaceable. And when the chips are down, no one gets it done like a teacher does. Recent years have seen droves of teachers leaving the profession for lack of support. And now all we want is for our kids and teachers to be together again. What a gift!
In fact, there are many good things that have been discounted over time, and yet these circumstances are bringing to bear how truly important they are. Clean air and water? Good. Science? Good. The importance of working people—the doers who keep society afloat? Good. The value in togetherness? So, so good.
The most surprising of gifts dropped into our laps. What we needed most, suddenly presented itself. Absolutely, hardships have come. Yet the gifts are everywhere too. Unexpected and utterly welcome.
I mean, how blessed and lucky are we?
